Results 7,461-7,480 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will first respond to Deputy Cowen's questions. As I said, I do not want to speculate further. I have met with the Lebanese authorities and stressed to them the importance of justice and full accountability in respect of the killing of Seán Rooney. There is a broader context to what happened in terms of the Defence Forces' overseas mission, DFOM, which is the denial of access....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 83 together. The Defence Forces remain committed to optimising the number of personnel inducted and 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 to 29 years old for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will take the question on the Reserve first. There was recruitment last year, but I do not think the procedures and processes were sufficient to accommodate those who had expressed an interest. An office has now been created in respect of recruitment to the Reserve force and its organisation. There is huge potential there. In speaking with the Chief of Staff, the military leadership and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I was very much reflecting on this. The cybersecurity attack on the HSE in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic was a very serious one that had a very severe impact on our health service and caused enormous strain and stress among senior personnel and those at the clinical front line who do scanning. It was interesting that the Polish Government contacted us immediately, as did the UK...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: We have to develop our own capabilities; however, with respect to subsea cables, it is not all about ships and assets. Much of this will involve mathematics, as a person recently said to me. Much expertise will be required. It also means working with semi-State bodies and private companies. I said 97% of all Internet traffic is subsea traffic. An enormous number of financial transactions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 116 together. On 14 December 2022, eight personnel from the 121st Infantry Battalion were involved in an incident resulting in the death of Private Seán Rooney and injuries suffered by several others, including Trooper Shane Kearney, who suffered critical injuries. I have consistently expressed my determination to have all the facts and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: In response to both Deputies, I will not speculate any further at this stage, given how imminent the trial is. In the course of my meetings with the Minister for National Defence and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon when I visited following the killing of Private Seán Rooney, I stressed the need for co-operation and the establishment of all the facts and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: On pay, I said in reply to an earlier question, there has been significant progress on pay for new recruits. Current pay rates, including military service allowances for recruits on completion of their training, start at €37,147 in year 1, rising to €38,544 in year 2 and €39,832 in year 3 of service. A school-leaver cadet, on commissioning, is paid €41,123....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. It is fair to say we have witnessed a fundamental change in our security environment in the last year with a renewed focus on maritime security and the protection of subsea cables. Protecting them on an ongoing basis is not a task that Ireland can shoulder alone. It requires international co-operation, shared responsibilities and mutual trust....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: It has been very far-reaching. It was very much based on the independent review group, to be frank, which probably exceeded people's expectations in the clarity of its language. Although it is not a finding of fact, and the judge was clear on that, the conclusions are nonetheless very stark and shocking, as I said in the House. The objective of the exercise is to have findings of fact in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 107 and 109 together. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government and its report was published on 9 February 2022. There were 69 main recommendations and, including sub-recommendations, 130 recommendations in total. The commission undertook a significant body of work encompassing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Durkan raised an important issue. We have to pursue, in parallel with the statutory inquiry and dealing comprehensively with the recommendations of the IRG, the issue of increasing capability within the Defence Forces. That is why I mentioned the need for one overall plan to transform the Defence Forces. Culture has to change. What Women of Honour brought to light and what the...

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

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's views are welcome. In respect of the earlier answer I gave, we need to get his up and running before the summer recess. It will take a lengthy period before there are hearings and so on. There has to be discovery of documents and legal representation has to be worked out for all those participating. Time could go very quickly here. I am giving a minimum time of three years...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I met them all.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The purpose of this is to inquire into the entire culture in the Defence Forces in the context of sexual assault in particular and abuse, and to examine all the recommendations that came from the IRG. The latter recommended a statutory inquiry covering a range of issues, especially the degree to which the complaints system in the Defence Forces was effective or not in respect of complaints...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Everybody serving in the Defence Forces has an interest in this. People who have retired have asked to make an input. We have heard people. It does not mean we accept every case that is made. I will give the Deputy the list, which I gave earlier. I did not go fast either. In fairness, I do not have an issue-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I met the Women of Honour group twice, including with the Taoiseach. I have met the group three times. I met PDFORRA and RACO, which represent serving members of the Defence Forces. I met the Irish Defence Forces Veterans Association. The Men and Women of Honour group also made representations. There is a different approach and so forth, but their views are legitimate too. The Secretary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The terms of reference were predominantly drafted in line with the IRG's recommendations. That group was led by Mr. Justice O'Hanlon. We drafted the terms of reference. That is my responsibility. We shared them with all the groups, including Women of Honour and Men and Women of Honour. They came back with suggested amendments. We met to discuss those. There will be further engagement...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 69 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 sexual...

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

Micheál Martin: We had a lengthy discussion on this last week with the Women of Honour group and other groups. We also consulted serving members of the Defence Forces, including serving women in the Defence Forces. I do not accept that the terms of reference are too narrow. We took on board some recommendations from various groups, including the Women of Honour group. We then agreed there would be...