Results 6,361-6,380 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 52 together. First, no such equation was ever made. The report of the independent review group, IRG, established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published on 28 March. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the report, which included the establishment of a statutory inquiry to identify...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Peace keeping is the most noble act of all. We pay tribute to the courage and commitment of our Defence Forces personnel in Lebanon and in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, in Syria. Their mission is to protect the civilian population in the area. We have been doing this for decades now, generally within Lebanon. In recent years the situation has become more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: That decision has been taken on foot of recommendations from the Chief of Staff and military management. One has to take those decisions to give adequate time for their implementation so that decision was taken about a year ago, following recommendations to bring clarity to planning into the future. We have participated in every EU battle group since 1999 and will participate in this one as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together. The military authorities advise that at the end of October 2023, the number of personnel in the Defence Forces stood at 7,595. The establishment of the Defence Forces was recently increased to 9,589. This increase is intended to expedite implementation of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, through the creation of 89...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: On 15 November, when I was in the Middle East, my Department became aware of a Lebanese media report announcing that one of the individuals accused of the murder of Private Seán Rooney on 14 December last who had been in Lebanese custody had been released on bail. The case against this individual and the other defendants is due to resume in Beirut on 15 December. In addition to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate what Deputy Ó Murchú is saying. I am not happy with this and quite understandably the family are not happy. I will again convey to the Lebanese Government and to the United Nations my view that the lives of our peacekeepers need to be valued and affirmed through robust legal processes. We know the situation in Lebanon is challenging to say the least, in terms of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am conscious that the case is under way. Hezbollah is a major force in Lebanon. That must be acknowledged as well. A new government has not been formed in Lebanon in quite a long time. That is not helpful either. The situation generally in Lebanon, with the collapse of the economy and the currency, mean there is a significant need for stability in the country. We have been long-term...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces have almost 460 personnel serving between the two UN missions referenced by the Deputy. As of 1 November, 319 Irish personnel were attached to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, and 136 were serving with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Syria, UNDOF. All Defence Forces personnel are maintaining a high level of vigilance and continue...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The publication of the IRG report was important. It enabled us to take fairly immediate action. I just outlined for the Deputy the amendments to legislation so that in the future all acts of sexual assault will go the civil courts. They will not be tried at military police level or at military court level; that is important. We had given that directive already. We have witnessed that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I mentioned in an earlier reply the details of starting pay which has increased very significantly in the last number of years. The starting rates of pay in the Defence Forces now compare very well to comparable rates of pay across the public service. In addition, a range of financial and non-financial measures have been introduced such as the extension of private secondary medical care to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the security situation in Europe. It has also demonstrated the need for Ireland and our European Union partners to work closely together to deal with the serious security challenges that we face. Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I attended the Foreign...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am not anticipating a rapid attack right now-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Security and Defence Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and as the Deputy knows we have a position of non-alignment. We are not members of NATO, and we have no plans to join, and the Constitution prohibits any European Union common defence pact, or Ireland's participation in any EU common defence pact. There is a broader provision in the EU where EU member states may come to the assistance of another EU member state that comes under attack...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have met with the Women of Honour group on a number of occasions, and with their legal advisers, who are experienced in the matter of tribunals and inquiries going back over a long period of time. I think we have been very fair. I have been very clear, honest and straightforward in relation to this. I think the recommendation of the independent review group, IRG, was to have a statutory...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Exactly.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: First of all, there have been exhaustive discussions. We have had a number of meetings and correspondence with the Women of Honour and other groups. The Attorney General has met with the legal advisers to Women of Honour. We have gone through a lot of stuff in detail. The fundamental recommendation of the IRG has been met by the draft terms of reference and we have sought to go through...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Sorry.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The report of the independent review group established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published following Government approval on 28 March of this year. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the report. One of the first actions taken was the establishment of an external oversight body, initially on a non-statutory basis. This...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have met the representative associations about this issue. They know my commitment to it. As part of the conciliation and arbitration scheme, we established a sub-committee and the representative associations have had an input through that committee. As part of that, compensatory rest is now provided for certain duties in line with the provisions of the directive. There is no question,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The responsibility, as the Deputy said, for developing the legislative framework to remove the blanket exemption for the Defence Forces under the Organisation of Working Time Act lies with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We have to get the policy positions finalised to inform the general scheme and the eventual legislation. Formal engagement will commence once that is...