Results 4,921-4,940 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Defence Force Regulation A10 sets out the conditions defining the requirement of payments with respect to enlisted ranks departing the Defence Forces. In general, the majority of personnel in this situation would pay a nominal fee for Discharge by Purchase. In terms of actual number of individuals who have paid this fee, over the last five years, the Military Authorities have provided...

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

Micheál Martin: Deputy, We are seeking a deferral on this. Our colleagues in the Defence Forces Press Office need some more time to confirm a correct response from the Editor of publication. It has therefore not been possible to provide the required information within the timeframe available.

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

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I wish to assure the Deputy that the safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces’ personnel is of paramount concern to Government, that I, as Tánaiste and Minister of Defence, remain in ongoing contact with the Chief of Staff, and that the Department of Defence is kept apprised of all developments in those areas in which Defence Forces’ personnel...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. The decision to withdraw personnel from the UNDOF mission was taken on the basis of Military advice received in early 2023 in order to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capacity to fulfil its commitment to the EU Battlegroup 2024/2025, as well as allowing the Defence Forces to undertake a process of consolidation with regard to...

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...