Results 6,881-6,900 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I think you are overstating it and are distorting the argument. That is wrong. You did the same with the consultative forum.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I fully acknowledge the challenges currently facing the Defence Forces in regard to recruitment and retention including, in particular, the Naval Service. Ireland is not alone, however, in these challenges, which are being experienced by a number of other militaries across the world, with particular challenges for navies internationally. There...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: My understanding of the specialised instructors' allowance is that there are ongoing discussions with RACO, but RACO agreed with it some time back as part of an earlier deal. I outlined a fairly lengthy list of measures. The personal tax credit is worth about €1,500 for those at sea over a particular period. The measures have not been effective on the recruitment side. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have moved very quickly on the organisation of the working time directive. There has been acceleration and significant engagement with the representative associations and bodies, Department and military management. I see the attainment and realisation of the working time directive as very important. We have to change culture in the Naval Service and Defence Forces. I was somewhat...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the question. The Government remains fully committed to the advancement of the Reserve Defence Force. The 2015 White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve. 9 o’clock The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces equally serves to reinforce that commitment. The report contains many...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I think Deputy Cronin would accept that too.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate that. I also appreciate that the members concerned are anxious given the reviews that have been under way. I see the organisation of working time directive as a positive development, and one that I am very anxious to see brought to completion, in the interests of health and safety.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not suggest that Deputy Cronin would not be. In terms of the fire service, of course we want to retain a multidisciplinary approach and to have various skill sets within the Defence Forces. All the local public representatives have been in touch. I understand there is a local context to this issue, and a family context to it in terms of the personnel and then there is the broader...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I published Strategic Framework: Transformation of the Defence Forces on 26 September. The purpose of the strategic framework is to bring together into one overarching document the immediate actions to be taken to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a fit-for-purpose organisation that can defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. My priority within...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: First, I will refer to the training so far provided to the Ukrainians. By the way, military neutrality means non-alignment with a military alliance. Ireland is not militarily aligned. That is how our neutrality has been defined for decades. We are not a member of NATO. We have no intention of becoming a member of NATO. We have no plans to become a member of NATO. We are signatories to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: We do not provide lethal aid to Ukraine in terms of the European peace facility. That was a commitment in the programme for Government. Military neutrality is defined in terms of our membership or non-membership of a military alliance.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the absolute necessity of a strong Reserve force. There were 90 recruited in 2022. I am nine months in office and I made it clear earlier in the year that I was not happy with the rate of progress. When we consider that 1,000 had applied in the earlier recruitment process, the process of medical testing and so on was far too slow. I asked and instructed that this would...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is why we set up the office, specifically following the recommendation from the commission on the Defence Forces to establish an office of Reserve affairs. That was a recognition that over the years, the level of urgency and attention to this was not what it should have been. Early on, after I became Minister, I had a specific meeting on this issue. The office has been established and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. No proposals have been made to me in respect of the fire service in the Defence Forces Training Centre, DFTC, in the Curragh Camp and I have made no decision in relation to it. I just want to make that clear because I did hear of reports in August which were a surprise to me at the time. They were not brought to my attention in any...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Sorry?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that it is part of the implementation of the working time directive. I have taken an initiative to accelerate work on the working time directive and in that context there were consultations with the representative associations by the military authorities. They indicated that they were reviewing current operational outputs and that the fire service in the Curragh camp was...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Reserve Defence Force, RDF, comprises the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve. The establishment of RDF is 4,069. This comprises 3,869 for the Army Reserve and 200 for the Naval Service Reserve. The strength of the RDF as of 31 August 2023 stood at 1,319 members in the Army Reserve; 81 members in the Naval Service Reserve; and 280 members of the First...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Army Ranger Wing (ARW) are the Special Operations Forces of the Defence Forces. The need for a high level of preparedness to deal with any requests for Special Forces operations is inherent in the unit’s mission, and members, as we have seen in recent days, are trained to the highest levels of motivation, physical fitness and skill at arms for their specialist role. The ARW is on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reports (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 87 and 116 together. The security situation in Europe has changed fundamentally since Russia’s illegal and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which has resulted in major conflict returning to the European continent for the first time in decades. Millions of civilians have been forced to flee and take refuge across Europe. In the context of this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: A Naval Service Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme was introduced with effect from 1 January 2021. It was targeted at retaining and incentivising experienced and trained Naval Service personnel to undertake sea-going duties. It is one of a number of measures aimed at addressing retention issues in the Naval Service. The scheme was re-launched in December 2022 with revised Terms and...