Results 4,361-4,380 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: No formal functions of the Minister for Defence have been delegated to the Minister of State and full responsibility for Defence policies, the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces remains with the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence. However the Minister of State assists and performs functions, including Oireachtas business, as assigned by me as Minister for Defence on my behalf....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Through the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), the EU takes a leading role in peacekeeping operations, conflict prevention and the strengthening of international security. The following are the details for the costs related to Ireland’s participation in the CSDP EU military missions with a peacekeeping focus since 2008, as reported in the Vote 36 - Defence annual appropriation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are no plans to engage a career guidance officer in the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces Personnel Support Service (DF PSS) routinely provides support to personnel who are preparing to leave the Defence Forces through appropriate guidance and signposting to available services. The DF PSS also coordinates and conducts transition to civilian life training on an ongoing basis. This...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Funding (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department provides support to two recognised Veterans Associations. These Veterans Associations, which represent all former personnel, are Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). My Department engages on an ongoing basis with these Veterans Associations and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Business of Select Committee (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his amendment and thoughtful contribution. Throughout this process, I have been engaging and we have been taking on board very carefully the comments made by members of the committee. We have had correspondence with the committee. We have amended and taken on board two substantive issues in the presentation of this Bill to the House in terms of representations that...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes, that is generally the direction of travel. Others will have views on that. Where responsibility is held or allocated, there has to be accountability.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I certainly do not, although I have studied the period-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----from the early 20th century right through. We can be well enlightened by what happened in the 1920s. We had the Army mutiny later. It was Kevin O'Higgins who laid down the essential principle that those who wear the uniform of the State serve the State. We will deal with that later in other aspects of this legislation. There are fundamental principles but, obviously, the passage of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: If the Chair will allow me to intervene, I was supposed to make an opening statement which would have dealt comprehensively with that point. That is not how things have worked out. I do not want to-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I just want to make the point. I took the Chair's willingness to try to be focused and efficient on this matter, but I had a statement on that, because it is not the case that this was somehow produced while completely ignoring the work of the committee. That is not the case.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not going to, I had an-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Sorry?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: We would have written to the committee. We have letters here which indicate it. I had an opening statement that the Chair said he would prefer I did not read, and which would have explained this. We can get into propaganda and politics if we wish, but that is not the case.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Birth Certificates (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation. If a person or their parent was born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005, they are an Irish citizen and they can apply for an Irish passport without making an application for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over half a million passports to date in 2024. The Customer Service Hub has responded to over 200,000 queries this year and is now handling up to 16,000 queries per week. The Passport Service is well staffed with a total of 850 staff currently, and is in an excellent position to deliver the level of demand forecasted for this year, even with the busy...