Results 4,661-4,680 of 49,984 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Diplomatic Representation (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The White Paper on Defence recognised the need for the Department of Defence to continue to engage in developing and deepening bilateral relations with potential like-minded partners to secure Ireland’s position in current and future international crisis management operations. The Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces further supported this view. A joint civilian/military...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together. The European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is the highest military body within the EU. It is composed of the Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) of the EU's Member States who, on a day to day basis, are represented in Brussels by the Military Representatives from the Permanent Representations of the Member States to the EU. The EUMC...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The secretary to the Board is provided from my Department’s staff. I can confirm there has been no exit, severance or redundancy packages of €100,000 and above but less than €200,000 granted...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided the requested details, in the table below, in relation to the vacancies in the Defence Forces School of Music. Figures are as at 11 March 2024: Rank Lt Col Comdt Captain Lt CS CQ Sgt Cpl Pte Strength 1 1 3 0 4 1 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: All training provided by the Defence Forces to the Ukrainian Armed Forces via the EU's Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) has taken place overseas, on the territory of other EU Member States. Separately, and not linked to EUMAM, as part of Ireland's participation in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP), a NATO Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) Evaluator...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised my Department that the Air Corps visiting aircraft log from 2004 indicates that the G-BSZC landed on 10 September 2004 at 0816hrs and took off again at 0927hrs. The origin airport or destination details have not been recorded by the Air Corps. The purpose of the movement is recorded as “visit”. The aircraft in question landed again at...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The aircraft in question landed in Baldonnel in connection with an event hosted by "The Beech Club" in September 2004. A Hold Harmless Agreement was entered into by Mr Anthony Walsh and Mr Anthony Hodgson in relation to same; this Agreement has the effect of indemnifying the Minister in relation to any aircraft landing. As my Department was not involved in the charity event, it has no records...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Funding (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department makes an annual grant payment each year from the Defence Vote to the Irish Red Cross Society towards the administrative running costs of its headquarters, with the amount provided over the last three years as follows. Year Funding Provided 2021 Irish Red Cross Society €975,000 2022 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published following Government approval on 28 March 2023. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the Report. One of the IRG’s recommendations called for the establishment of a complaints process for civilian employees and civil...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is currently foreseen that the total number of the proposed Defence Forces contribution to the German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025 will be approximately 186 personnel. This will be comprised of a Group HQ consisting of 4 personnel, Mechanised Infantry Company (with a Company HQ, Infantry platoons and a weapons platoon consisting of 139 personnel) together with a National Support Element...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: A Working Group on the use of malaria chemoprophylaxis in the Defence Forces presented its report and recommendations to the Minister with Responsibility for Defence in October 2017. A further working group was established with a view to examining and implementing these recommendations. In January 2020, the Minister with Responsibility for Defence was informed by the military authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Private Partnerships (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are no public private partnership projects operated or funded by my Department.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Is the building complete?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It clearly deserves to be highlighted and profiled. This is a very unusual position, where a building is complete. The Deputy is saying there is a contractual row with the contractor.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Obviously people are probably adverse to making public comments that might increase the leverage of one party or the other, particularly the contractor in this case, but it is clear the situation is absurd and something needs to happen there.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, the Deputy contacted me during the week in respect of the Sean Brown case and he has been consistent regarding the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in seeking answers from the British Government regarding that terrible atrocity. In the Sean Brown case, I support the family in its quest for an inquiry. We would have preferred if both Governments and all the political parties in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is earlier than 60, is it not?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On the issue raised by Deputy Kenny, there is an investigation under way of Ideal Care Services and the unvetted staff issue. The model should be examined but we should be under no illusion that it would take a considerable length of time to develop both the physical capacity and the multidisciplinary capacity that would be required to deal with vulnerable children. On balance, I favour the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputies raising these issue. I have to point out that since this Government came to power, there has been record allocation of capital funding to education in respect of new school projects and indeed in areas of special education, particularly new capital projects in special education. The population is growing. Inflation was quite dramatic in the past two years. There...