Results 5,721-5,740 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Travel (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) provides the Government and the President with an independent and flexible air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations. MATS is delivered primarily by the use of the Learjet 45 aircraft, which came into operation in 2004. However, other Air Corps aircraft may also be used. My Department has contracted an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Travel (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The table below provides details and schedule of costs paid by the Department of Defence for official flights taken and hotels stayed in during 2023 by myself along with accompanying staff and advisors. Passenger Details Destination Date of travel Details Total Cost Tánaiste Dublin – Istanbul – Beirut...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government has no plans for the Defence Forces to participate in any further overseas missions at present. However, given the insecurity in international security in the world today, we need to be able to deploy our Defence Forces when required to overseas peacekeeping and crisis management operations speedily and with agility. In terms of the criteria used to determine whether Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am appalled by the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the scale of civilian casualties. The Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, for an increase in humanitarian access and for the protection of civilians. There are well established formal procedures at EU and National level to deal with requests for humanitarian assistance. These procedure have been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Properties (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: A consultant has been commissioned by the Defence Forces to assess the condition of the vacant housing and its suitability for conversion/refurbishment to provide for single living-in accommodation for Defence Force personnel. A report in this regard is expected soon .

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Properties (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Minister with responsibility for Defence, I am the custodian and guardian of the Curragh lands pursuant to the provisions of the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1961. I believe it is important to bear this in mind, as under that Act, the Curragh Plains is recognised as a working environment for the state's Defence Forces as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Government has progressed a number of key measures arising from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report to address pay and recruitment issues in the Defence Forces. These include a number of projects undertaken to bolster the attractiveness of a career in the Defence Forces, and cover a range of measures which improve pay and conditions. It is also worth noting in this regard that the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The primary function of training in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. The Defence Forces conduct training under four broad categories, namely: Leadership, Skills, Career, and Collective. Leadership Training is the medium through which the Defence Forces ensure that personnel are prepared for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I presume the Deputy is referring to the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve in his question. Members of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve are volunteers who undertake training in their spare time. In order to facilitate the voluntary nature of Reserve Service and to maximise attendance of Reserve personnel, training continues to be organised both in and out of normal working...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: As at 31 December 2023, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 559. The table below sets out the number of women who applied for, and the number that were inducted into, the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 December 2023. At 37, the number female inductions represents some 9% of the total inductions of 415 personnel, in line with the aims of the Chief of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non security related...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: As of 11 January 2024, Ireland is contributing 530 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions and locations. The main missions in which personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 329 personnel, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 134 personnel. Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The 2024 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) provides an allocation of €1.25 billion in Defence Group funding, an increase of €40 million over 2023. The Defence Vote Group includes the Defence and Army Pensions Votes. The allocations for 2024 are €933 million for the Defence Vote and €317 million for the Army Pensions Vote. This significant level of funding will further...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Coast Guard has had overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) services within the Irish Search and Rescue domain since 2004. The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) comes within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly to explain what is required to progress her application and the reason an additional document is required.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: In order to answer this question it is necessary to consult archived information, which is not immediately available. We will contact the Deputy directly once the information required to answer this question is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is no plan to review the decision to withdraw the Defence Forces' Infantry Group from the UNDOF mission this year. The replacement Troop Contributing Country (TCC) has been selected to take over the role of the Force Reserve Company, following the scheduled Irish departure in April 2024. Planning for the withdrawal of the Defence Forces' contingent and their replacement is well...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Conciliation & Arbitration (C&A) Scheme for the Permanent Defence Force is the mechanism for addressing industrial issues within the Defence sector. In line with the Irish model of industrial relations, this is a voluntary mechanism which provides structures for management and staff to engage on collective issues that may arise. These structures have helped to maintain...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs, under new Defence Forces structures, was one of 130 recommendations included in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces which was published on 9th of February 2022. Following detailed consideration by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces of the recommendations in the report, a High Level Action Plan and a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 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)...