Results 4,821-4,840 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established recently in line with a recommendation from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CODF). The Director of ORA, how holds the rank of Colonel, advises that their immediate focus is on the development of a Regeneration Plan. A recruitment drive for the RDF was launched...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government is committed to restoring the strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and last year saw positive growth in terms of the number of personnel completing a growing number of training days with the result that there has been an increase in the budget for the RDF this year. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government remains fully committed to the advancement of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). A RDF recruitment competition was relaunched in October 2023, where, to date, there are over 800 live applications resulting from this campaign. There has been ongoing and recent progress on the medical phase of the induction process with work completed on streamlining the two-stage medical...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Following the establishment of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA), the Director of ORA, who holds the rank of Colonel, advises that their immediate focus is on the development of a Regeneration Plan, in addition to focusing on general recruitment into the RDF. As the Deputy will be aware, a recruitment competition was launched in October 2023. This competition is ongoing and the ORA...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. The First Line Reserve (FLR) is intended to provide a pool of trained personnel who are available at short notice to supplement Permanent Defence Force (PDF) units in times of emergency. There is currently no set establishment for the FLR. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 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 (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It has not been possible to provide the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It has not been possible to provide the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that it is not possible to provide the data in the format requested by the Deputy, without an extensive exercise in tracking, on an individual application basis, applicants that were inducted and subsequently completed their training. Additionally, applications made in any one year may not complete the recruitment process within that year, and thereafter...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the numbers within the civil service grades employed within my Department across various locations. Recruitment is ongoing with a view to the filling of current vacancies. It should be noted that the number of Assistant Secretaries includes the Defence Forces' Head of Transformation and Head of Strategic HR, who are among 13 civil servants from the Department who...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 5 March 2024, the Government approved an increase in the maximum age of recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force to 39 years for those roles with a current recruitment age below 39 years. The measure will take effect from 29 March 2024 and will apply to General Service Recruits, Cadets and certain specialists. This increase was facilitated by a decision to increase the mandatory...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Mr. Peter Burke, TD, is the current Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence. The Minister of State assists and performs functions, including Oireachtas business, as assigned by me as Minister for Defence on my behalf. Responsibilities of the Minister of State include the following: Deputising for the Minister on Defence matters; Taking all or specific stages of Defence legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together. The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission on 15 February calling for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. As set out in the letter, the Government is deeply concerned at the deteriorating...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am appalled by the horrible deaths of Palestinians queueing for aid in Gaza city last week. I join the calls by High Representative Borrell and Secretary General Antonio Guterres, among others, for a credible and impartial investigation to establish the facts. Those responsible must to be held to account. International humanitarian law is unambiguous on this point; Israel must...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Israel’s action in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are of serious concern for Ireland. Ireland has repeatedly called for an end to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and respect for international law, including international humanitarian law. The Taoiseach and Spanish Prime Minister have written to Commission President von der Leyen expressing deep concern at the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland had advocated strongly at EU level agreement at EU level on sanctions against violent settlers in the West Bank who are attacking and displacing Palestinian communities. This is a matter that I have raised with my European counterparts at successive meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. During the Council’s meeting in February, 26 Member States indicated that they are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Minister of State for European Affairs delivered Ireland’s national address to the High-Level Segment of the annual Conference on Disarmament, chaired by Indonesia, in Geneva on 27 February. Ireland will continue to champion progress on disarmament, including our priorities of accountability, gender and humanitarian consequences, through the Non-Proliferation Treaty’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: President Macron recently hosted a number of European leaders, including the Taoiseach, and a number of international partners at an informal meeting in Paris to consider the current situation in Ukraine. I understand that a broad range of ideas were discussed, including possible additional military support to Ukraine to assist the country in its efforts to defend itself against...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As noted by the Deputy in his question, in its Order of 5 June 2023 in the case Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) the International Court of Justice commented on the right of intervention by states at the different stages of Court proceedings. Specifically, the Court explained that states may...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (6 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's active participation in various international bodies and organisations involves the appointment from time to time of Irish officials to their ranks. These appointments serve to enhance Ireland’s profile and standing on the global stage. In the ten years since December 2013, officials of my Department have assisted in the campaigns of other Government Departments or on...