Results 8,481-8,500 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since coming into office, I have identified this issue as one on which I want to see progress. The heads of the Bill cannot be drafted until the discussions are completed within the confines of the subcommittee of the conciliation and arbitration scheme. That means discussing with the representative organisations and hearing their concerns, and that is ongoing. It makes sense for us to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I accept the principle that Deputy Ó Cuív and other Deputies have put forward, including Deputy Fitzpatrick earlier. To be fair, I outlined in the reply that a significant move has been made in respect of 21 years' service, I believe, and going to 50 years of age. I accept the basic principle that the world has changed. Ireland has gained 25 years in lifespan for Irish people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are some in here too.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The point I am making is that we have to apply that to the Defence Forces. There are wider issues in respect of the fast accrual pension, which is at the core of it. I believe we can resolve those, and if a move is made, the Deputies opposite will be the very first to come back and ask what about another group that deserves similar treatment and so on. That is why the Department of Public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: On the timeline issue, the Minister of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is very clear that the interdepartmental group is not a mechanism for allowing something to be buried, or whatever, but it needs to be resolved quickly. The interim measures I am talking about are within a much shorter timeframe.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I wish to confirm that the WRC recommendations on anti-discrimination law arising from a decision in December 2020, are currently being implemented by the military authorities with the support of my officials. As the Deputy will be aware, the WRC adjudicator directed, in the first instance, that a comprehensive review of training and information...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I have said, I am not going into the specifics because we want to meet groups and we want to-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020, which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on 9 February 2022. The commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Of the 130 recommendations of the commission, 48 have been accepted, 55 have been accepted in principle, 17 are subject to further evaluation and ten are to revert to Government. In respect of areas such as the chain of command and so on, I will revert to Government. In terms of the disposition of units and so on, there is work to be done and significant evaluation is required in respect of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I look forward to visiting. I will visit all the barracks, as well as the navy and Baldonnel. I will also meet serving members of the Defence Forces and review progress at various barracks, in terms of infrastructure investment. I was in Kilkenny recently. A fantastic gym has been recently constructed there and we need more of that. We need to modernise the infrastructure in all of our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The answer to that question is "Yes". As I said, because historically military life placed unique demands on individuals, it was considered necessary that Defence Forces personnel had to be prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. The compulsory retirement ages for ranks in the Permanent Defence Force are considerably lower than in other employments. The Public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not intend to do it without Dáil debate, if that meets the Deputy's point. This is not something that can just be published and we all go on. This is going to take prolonged engagement from Members of the House as well as all stakeholders.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: What I would say to the Government is that I do not think what happened was merely wrong; I think it was shocking and disgraceful. There is no justification. There has to be fundamental change. I have to go to the Government. The Government has to make decisions on the basis of this. This is the process. I will recommend decisions for the Government to take in respect of the report....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy was a member of the Government and knows they have to go to the Government first. He does know that. This affects every member of the Defence Forces. It really does. Every member of the Defence Forces is a stakeholder in this now in terms of the implications of the report and the follow-up action. I believe that we should try to facilitate an initial debate after the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not want to go into the specifics. There are many recommendations. 10 o’clock I am minded to follow through. I will be resolute in following through on this because it will be a watershed moment.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: We cannot discuss it across the floor of the House, if the representative organisations are in the discussion. I am making a legitimate point that we should facilitate and allow that to happen, but I will not allow it to drag on interminably. I will take action in respect of bringing a proposal to the Government. It then has to be legislated for and the legislating Department is the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 7, 33 and 36 together. Despite the reforms that have taken place in the Defence Forces in the past 20 years with regard to dignity and equality matters, it is clear from the experiences shared by both current and former members of the Defence Forces, including the Women of Honour group and the men and women of honour group, that the culture that is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Troy raised the issue of the Women of Honour group. I intend to meet with those groups, prior to and after publication of the report. I received the report last month. I sent it to the Attorney General and I will be bringing it to Government very shortly. I hear conflicting reviews as to when it should be published. We cannot wait until after the recess either for publication....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: No, it is not a stroke of a pen. As I said, it is an issue I am pursuing with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, but it has wider implications. It would not just apply to the Defence Forces. We must extend the age limits. That will involve discussions with others who will have issues regarding how that is done. It is not a stroke of a pen....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 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 assure the Deputy that the Government remains fully committed to ensuring the provisions of the working time directive are applied, where appropriate, to the Defence Forces. This is in line with...