Results 6,441-6,460 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am just making the point it is open to countries to apply if there are United Nations training programmes. We do not get to decide who is or is not a member of the United Nations, although we can have a say in it if there are votes and so on. To respond to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, again, the trade law is there with respect to public procurement and tendering. I certainly have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Again, the principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. Deputy Carthy knows that and Deputy Ó Snodaigh knows that. It is an EU law requirement and is in accordance with the defence and security directive. I do not know whether the Deputies are saying explicitly that we should simply break the law-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: They said we should campaign. I do not think we are not in a position to do that, although we have written to the EU with Spain. Ours are the two countries in the EU that have written to the EU in respect of the trade association agreement with Israel, and Ireland has said we want a review and examination of that in the context of our view on Israel's non-compliance with the human rights...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: How does the Deputy think we should procure weapons? Does he think we should procure weapons at all? It seems to me that his position is that we should not and that we should have no arms industry at all. That is what he has suggested.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am asking a straight question. Does the Deputy think we should have an arms industry?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do not have responsibility for this organisation, but I will seek further information for the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy already had the information. He named names. He asked a question to which he already had the answer.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy made declaratory statements about an arms industry. It seems to me that his position is that we should not procure any weapons and the arms industry is a shadowy operation. I do not know how we are going to defend ourselves-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----if we do not buy any guns, ships, airplanes or anything like that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been Minister for Defence for over a year. I am determined to establish a tribunal of inquiry, on foot of the independent review group. The Government recently approved the terms of reference for a tribunal of inquiry, pursuant to the provisions of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921. The tribunal will examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I made it clear in the Dáil on numerous occasions that the terms of reference cover anybody who did not make a formal complaint to the complaints processes coming before the tribunal and that people can have their issues addressed. In terms of why they would not have, many people felt they were deterred by the complaints processes which existed. Within a week or two, I hope to be in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: They were. We can go back to that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Again, there is no ambiguity, nor should there be any, in respect of that issue. I made that abundantly clear at the time the relevant motions came before the House. The issues being covered by the tribunal are very serious, but we have already acted in respect of many of the recommendations of the independent review group, whose conclusions were quite shocking. Any incident of sexual...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 9 together. I am advised that my Department has had no engagement with the Israel Defence Forces or other Israeli state bodies since January 2023. Similarly, the Defence Forces have had no engagements during this timeframe, save any arising as part of an overall deployment of the 12 Defence Forces officers serving with the United Nations Truce...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The latter point is provided for. I have made that point. No representative body would be presented in any shape or form from representing their members or articulating on issues pertaining to their members, and indeed they have not been. That is not going to be the position. It is in reference to the broader issues of political commentary that I said I would reflect on the legislation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy cannot have it both ways, though. When the independent review was published, he was the first in here asking if I was going to accept its recommendations. I have accepted its recommendations in respect of the external oversight body. There was a very clear communication made to me that previous attempts at this did not work and had not worked. There is no point in coming into...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. The Irish Defence and Security Association, IDSA, was established in 2021 with a mission "to ensure Ireland develops appropriate, leading-edge and trusted defence and security capabilities in the land, sea, air, space and cyber domains, in order to protect our society, create jobs, drive research and enhance Ireland’s economic growth"....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: This group is not under the aegis of my Department. The Department believes and I believe that there are similar groups all over member states. There is an arms industry out there. We purchase weaponry. To engage in peacekeeping, it is necessary to procure weaponry. I met with the EDA chief executive. Our participation in it is fairly low-key. The role of the EDA in the broader context...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. To date, Ireland has participated in 14 projects with the European Defence Agency, EDA, six of which are completed and eight are ongoing. These projects include areas such as joint procurement, cyber, military search capability, maritime surveillance and counter-improvised explosive devices. Ireland's participation in EDA projects is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: First, any iteration, change or shift in CSDP within the EU will have to have respect for what we term the "specific characteristics" of policies of certain states including Ireland, Austria and Malta. That statement was made in the context of the Russian threat to the security of Europe. There is a real sense of vulnerability in terms of the war economy that is now, in essence, the driving...