Results 8,201-8,220 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: First of all, there have been exhaustive discussions. We have had a number of meetings and correspondence with the Women of Honour and other groups. The Attorney General has met with the legal advisers to Women of Honour. We have gone through a lot of stuff in detail. The fundamental recommendation of the IRG has been met by the draft terms of reference and we have sought to go through...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Sorry.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The report of the independent review group established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published following Government approval on 28 March of this year. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the report. One of the first actions taken was the establishment of an external oversight body, initially on a non-statutory basis. This...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have met the representative associations about this issue. They know my commitment to it. As part of the conciliation and arbitration scheme, we established a sub-committee and the representative associations have had an input through that committee. As part of that, compensatory rest is now provided for certain duties in line with the provisions of the directive. There is no question,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The responsibility, as the Deputy said, for developing the legislative framework to remove the blanket exemption for the Defence Forces under the Organisation of Working Time Act lies with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We have to get the policy positions finalised to inform the general scheme and the eventual legislation. Formal engagement will commence once that is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The report of the independent review group, IRG, established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published on 28 March last. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the report, which include the establishment of a statutory inquiry to identify systemic failures, if any, in the complaints system, in order to ensure accountability and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that Ireland has been to the fore. If one travels the Arab world there is huge respect for the stance Ireland has taken and the principled stand we have taken in respect of the Middle East over a long period of time. That was certainly the case in Egypt when I was there last week and with the Palestinian Authority when I met it in Ramallah last week, and when I met...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has deliberately ignored my answer and is being disingenuous because, as he is aware, trade policy and market access are largely European Union competencies. In the absence of a general trade embargo of Israel, which there is not-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is the Deputy's view, but I am saying that there is not such an embargo across Europe. The Department of Defence cannot unilaterally preclude Israeli companies from participating in tender competitions for military or any other type of goods, under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, GATT, and EU procurement law requirements. Under GATT and EU procurement law requirements, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is not.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not believe the Deputy should try to characterise me wrongly as he just has-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am very clear that I want the war in Gaza to end now. Ireland was one of the countries to come out early to call for a humanitarian ceasefire. We voted for the Arab resolution at the United Nations. When we met the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah it thanked us and appreciated the principled stand that Ireland takes in relation to these issues, and has taken.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: We will continue to work to get a humanitarian ceasefire and to get aid and medical supplies in at scale into Gaza, which is critical. We signed up to the GATT rules in respect of trade and the European Commission is competent - as the Deputy knows - on trade agreements. Ireland does not have the unilateral capacity and legally we cannot just extricate ourselves and say, "We want to do it...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Carthy for raising the question. I believe it has actually accelerated. Since coming in as the Minister I identified this as a key priority of mine. The Defence Forces are currently exempted from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU working time directive into Irish law. I assure the Deputy, however, that I am fully committed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided me with a table showing the estimated number of personnel who will be required to retire on age grounds from next year up to 2028, if they serve their full contract term. It should be noted that many personnel leave the Defence Forces before reaching mandatory retirement age. The table outlining projected mandatory retirement figures, which should be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I gave that figure, which is net 400.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy asked for the figure and I have given it in my reply. We are, of course, conscious of a recruitment and retention issue within the Defence Forces. I identified a long list of measures we have taken to improve allowances and improve the situation overall for members of our Defence Forces in order to attract new members and encourage retention. There are issues around recruitment...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, I was not Minister for Defence this time last year, nor was he his party's spokesperson on defence. There are a number of factors at play, of which the buoyant employment market is a key one. We have been close to full employment over the past two years. There is significant evidence that private industry has recruited a lot of our naval personnel and other staff from...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 38 together. As the Deputy will be aware, we like many other countries in Europe have witnessed a fundamental change in our security environment in the last year with an increased focus on maritime security and the protection of subsea cables. The security of Ireland’s sub-sea infrastructure is a matter of utmost importance for the Government....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government. Enhancing the physical working environment and equipment for our Defence Personnel is key feature of the recently published Strategic Framework...