Results 7,941-7,960 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----that is not on his terms and he lambasts anybody who suggests an open, transparent forum for a discussion on Irish foreign policy and an analysis of the security threats.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will address Finland and Sweden first. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the manner in which that took place shocked Finland, which has navigated the relationship with Russia and the Soviet Union before it with great dexterity ever since its foundation, but it shook Finland to the core. I remember Finland's prime minister saying to me that everything they were taught in school and which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I predicted this would happen. It is a nasty tactic of the far left, best exemplified by the Deputy here, to assassinate the person who is appointed. It is reprehensible behaviour but the Deputy does it all the time. His movement does it all the time. They attack the person who is appointed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: That person has a distinguished academic record. She was born in Waterford and rose to the top in the academic world in Oxford and the UK. She has a record in her own right as a political scientist. She is a person who will chair this consultative forum in an admirable, objective way. It speaks to the Deputy's hostility to anything this side of the House might suggest in respect of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----with some countries which are in NATO.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is nothing wrong. I will repeat what I am saying, just as there is nothing wrong with collaboration on cybersecurity. Look at what happened to our health service two years ago.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Look at what happened to our health-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: What is the Deputy saying about subsea security? Is it because it is not a public service?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: For God's sake. I think the Deputy's entire approach is ridiculous, shallow and superficial.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: It needs to be taken head on.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's approach is about distortion and deliberately trying to obfuscate and undermine decent debate.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would be happy to do so. I outlined quite a number of the plans already. We are looking at about 588 beds between what has happened and the following projects, which are at various stages of design development. In Cork there will be 186 beds between Collins Barracks and Haulbowline. Those are on their way at the moment. I have seen the work myself. There will be 48 beds in Kilkenny,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is the intention. We have to get this project up and running first but it is going well. I have also asked for more single en-suite provision, although not in all cases. We will upgrade the quality of the facilities that are being provided. The Haulbowline facilities are worth a visit but again there could have been some improvements there and full equality from a gender perspective...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 34 and 35 together. The consultative forum will take place in three different locations over four days at the end of June, on 22 June at University College Cork, on 23 June at the University of Galway, and on 26 and 27 June at Dublin Castle. In line with similar national processes, an independent chairperson was selected to chair the consultative...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has been part of the Common Security and Defence Policy for well over 20 years. We always opted in; we did not opt out. Denmark recently had a referendum to opt in, having stayed out for over two decades. We have been a partner for peace with NATO since 1999 and have been involved in a number of projects in that context. That is an individually tailored programme where given...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: When I suggested a citizens' assembly, Deputy Murphy was against it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Oh yes you were.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: You were. Through the Chair, the Deputy was against any discussion about this.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: There was consultation, and the consultation is ongoing. When we had a meeting, on the terms of reference, we presented a basic draft - I emphasise "draft" - terms of reference, which is reasonable as a starting point in terms of discussions with group. The meeting was quite amicable. The press statement afterwards surprised me given the nature of the discussion we had. I have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the Permanent Defence Force provides a significant level of single living accommodation for serving personnel, where this accommodation is required by personnel for training and operations duties. There are in excess of 4,500 places currently within all the military installations. I am pleased to be...