Results 7,421-7,440 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As of 31 May 2023, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,764 personnel while in 2022 it was 7,966, in 2021 it was 8,456 and in 2020 it was 8,568. The current establishment of the Defence Forces is 9,500. I note that the Deputy requested a further breakdown of these figures by branch and I have arranged for a table with these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is 7,764.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: For clarification, I have the table here and can be straight up with the Deputy. The strength of the Army in 2023 is 6,305 while that of the Air Corps is 704 and that of the Naval Service is 755. I am extremely concerned. I have been in this position for six months now and I am very worried about the situation in the navy. We have had meetings with the flag officer, the Chief of Staff and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Unlike other areas of the Public Service, and due to the nature of the duties performed, overtime payments are not available to members of the Defence Forces. Comparisons with other areas of the Public Service must be cognisant of the unique role, structure, duties and working conditions of service, which are particularly unique to military personnel. The non-standard time and attendance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Common Security and Defence Policy (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) sets out the EU’s framework in the field of defence and crisis management, including defence cooperation and coordination between Member States. Ireland is a strong proponent of the important role the EU can play in support of international peace and security and of the UN. Ireland is engaged with a number of EU...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Fisheries Protection (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in that they have the ability to undertake general...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Following Government and Dáil approval, the L.É. William Butler Yeats will commence operations with the Operation Irini mission in the Mediterranean tomorrow (21 June 2023). The core task of the mission is to contribute to the prevention of arms trafficking within its agreed Area of Operation, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2292 (2016) and subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: A wide range of primary medical services are provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force, including an annual medical examination, sick parades, GP services, prescription services, laboratory services, physiotherapy, chiropody, radiology, ophthalmic examinations, clinical mental health services provided by an in-house psychiatrist and two in-house psychologists, and routine dental...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: My officials and Military Management engage in regular and ongoing discussion on recruitment into the Defence Forces. This includes discussions regarding the recruitment of trainees, apprentices etc, and the scope and terms and conditions falling from that, where such proposals are made by Military Management. With regard to Air Corps, it is my understanding that Air Corps Management...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: As Minister for Defence, I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (GTF) supported by the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) in my Department. A subgroup of the GTF was assigned responsibility to develop guidance on critical infrastructure resilience in 2017. The subgroup produced the first guideline document on critical infrastructure resilience in February 2019. This document...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Union (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) sets out the EU’s framework in the field of defence and crisis management, including defence cooperation and coordination between Member States. Ireland is a strong proponent of the important role the EU can play in support of international peace and security and of the UN. The Strategic Compass, which was approved in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, the Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU Working Time Directive into Irish Law. I wish to assure you, however, that I am fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Working Time Directive are applied, where appropriate, to its members. This is in line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 92 together. The strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 May 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available, was 7,764 personnel. I have previously acknowledged the staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces, and work is ongoing to counter these. Sanction has recently been received for 100 extra positions to facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 99 and 112 together. The Government has agreed to progress, as a priority, the recommendations in the Report of the Independent Review Group. The establishment of a statutory inquiry to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in dealing with individual complaints in relation to interpersonal issues, including but not limited to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Government agreed to establish the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces, on a non-statutory basis initially, in line with one of the thirteen recommendations of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces published on March 28th. The Government moved quickly to establish the Body, making the following appointments on April 5thProfessor Brian...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 111 together. The development of a primary radar capability was one of the key recommendations made in last year's report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Demonstrating the Government’s commitment to implementing this recommendation, one of the Early Actions identified in the subsequent High Level Action Plan published in response to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 117 together. The military authorities have provided the information in the following table, detailing the total number of personnel inducted into, and discharged from, the Defence Forces in each of the years 2013 to 2023 (as at 31st May). Year Total Inducted Total Discharges 2023* 149 293...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 119 together. Military management remain committed to optimising the number of personnel inducted into the Defence Forces. Current recruitment initiatives include ongoing general service recruitment, targeted service specific recruitment, direct entry recruitment, and the re-entry schemes. The maximum age of entry was recently increased...