Results 6,921-6,940 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since 2016 there have been 2 general schemes referred by my Department for pre-legislative scrutiny. The following table shows the information requested by the Deputy. General Scheme Date General Scheme published for public review Date referred for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny General Scheme for the Defence (Amendment) Bill 25 September 2018 ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Conflicts (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Our priority is and will remain the safety of the local population and the humanitarian situation on the ground. Our focus right now is on doing that as best we can. We call for full compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law. The issues the Deputy raised in terms of the protection of civilians are still open to countries to...

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

Micheál Martin: I agree with Deputy Moynihan. Haulbowline is complete and I visited it recently. It has very fine accommodation and there will be further developments there also. For the information of the Deputies, at present there are approximately 4,509 military accommodation bed spaces for Defence Forces personnel throughout the country. This is a significant number. It is used predominantly for...

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

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that, as of 31 August 2023, 6,844 initial applications had been made to join the Permanent Defence Force across all competitions, of which 858 were from female applicants. Of these applications, 6,081 were deemed eligible applications. A total of 244 personnel have been inducted as of the same date, of whom 18 are female. In addition to ineligible...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Conflicts (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains a matter of the gravest concern, particularly in light of the fallout from the military action initiated by Azerbaijan in the region on 19 September. Ensuring the welfare and protection of civilians who remain there, as well as of those who have fled to Armenia, including through the...

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

Micheál Martin: I want to pay tribute to all involved in the joint task force involving the Defence Forces, the Garda and the Revenue, in particular. It also involved the deployment of: the LÉ William Butler Yeats; two AgustaWestland AW139 Army helicopters, one of which was in medical service but they are Army helicopters; one Casa CN 235 fixed wing aircraft; one Pilatus PC12 fixed wing aircraft; and a...

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

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy that we need more women in our Defence Forces, at all levels. We need change in that respect and that is something that I am focused on, as is the independent oversight group, particularly on the role of women within the Defence Forces and on career progression for women. As Deputy Aindrias Moynihan said earlier, it is vitally important that we develop mechanisms to...

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

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for that interesting vignette of history of the success of rural development which Fr. Harry Bohan was a pioneer of. We need more partnerships like that. We are investing in a lot of accommodation in existing barracks and in Haulbowline, where significant refurbishment has already taken place. We want to increase the specification and quality of this accommodation. It...

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

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the question and I want to outline the significant progress we have made in recent years in improving the Defence Forces' built infrastructure. Since taking office I have made a point of visiting several military installations and I have witnessed at first hand the improvements being made and the positive impact these improvements make to our personnel. Since...

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

Micheál Martin: What was the other thing the Deputy said?

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

Micheál Martin: Deputy Moynihan made some very important points not only about culture but also about progression. That is an issue, without question, and the independent oversight group that has been appointed in respect of the IRG is looking at that issue, at the whole promotional system within the Defence Forces and how we can encourage more women in terms of promotion. Traditionally and historically,...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 120 together. The ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces with regard to retention are fully acknowledged and well documented. In this we are no different from other international militaries that, in a competitive labour market, are experiencing similar difficulties. The immediate focus is on stabilising the numbers of personnel and on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Some of that commentary is incredible. It is an incredible overstatement. I did not discuss the training with President Zelenskyy because it is on a very minor scale compared to what every other member of the European Union is doing bar Ireland, Malta, and Austria. Get real here. We are not providing any military support in the form of hardware or weaponry to Ukraine, nor should we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Come on.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will shake my head.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I think it is shocking. It is shocking what is going on here.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Whataboutery all of the time. What Russia did is absolutely appalling-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and continues to be appalling. What do you expect people in Ukraine to do? Let them the whole way in?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Is that what we are expected to do? This is double standards. We are consistent on Palestine. We have done much more than the Deputy has suggested on Palestine, and the evidence of that is how we were treated in Palestine by the Palestinian authorities or by other neighbouring states who acknowledge Ireland's commitment, which is not only in terms of words but also in support of the United...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----we discussed it at the United Nations.