Results 9,261-9,280 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The 23 January Foreign Affairs Council on addressed a number of important issues, in particular the ongoing war in Ukraine, human rights violations in Iran, and the EU’s relationship with the Palestinian Authority. We took a number of decisions in relation to these issues and others.  The Council was addressed by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, who updated us on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 267 together. On 14th 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 a number of others, including Trooper Shane Kearney who suffered critical injuries. This tragic event has brought home to all of us the fragility of peace...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided the following details in relation to the strength and vacancies in the Defence Forces School of Music, as at 23 January 2023: Rank Lt Col Comdt Captain Lt CS CQ Sgt Cpl Pte Strength 1 1 3 0 3 1 32 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Having only recently been appointed as Minister for Defence, I haven't yet had the opportunity to meet my French counterpart, the Minister of the Armed Forces However, I will be attending an informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in early March in Stockholm, hosted by the Swedish Presidency. On 20 March, I will attend a combined meeting of EU Defence and Foreign Ministers in Brussels. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 272 together. The provision of accommodation for homeless persons is primarily the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. I am advised that my Department has previously submitted returns to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, in accordance with their suitability criteria, on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the 9th of February 2022.  The Commission has undertaken a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference.  It recommends significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high-level...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin:  The Judge-led Independent Review Group, established last January by Government, is examining the systems, policies and procedures for dealing with issues relating to bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the Defence Forces as well as the prevailing workplace culture.  I wish to commend the courage of serving members, the Women of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263, 264, 265 and 266 together. As at 31 December 2022, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was 7,987 personnel comprised of 6,478 Army personnel, 800 Naval Service personnel and 709 Air Corps personnel.  This equates to some 84% of the current PDF establishment strength of 9,500.  My immediate focus is now on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (2 Feb 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. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.  In this context, the principal aim over the period of the White Paper is to replace and upgrade, as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that, with its approval of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, that the Government committed to a range of actions to address pay and recruitment issues in the Defence Forces. These include a number of projects undertaken to bolster the attractiveness of a career in the Defence Forces, covering a range of measures which will improve...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. It is also Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the process under Section 13(2) of the Army Pensions Act, 1923 that applies to the award of disability pensions and gratuities under the Army Pensions Acts, and the notification of this process to individual applicants. The Army Pensions Acts provide for the grant of pensions and gratuities to former members of the Permanent Defence Force in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department and its Embassy network has engaged in promotion online where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens, and for the wider promotion of Ireland around the world. This had included campaigns relating to Passports, Consular Assitance, St Patrick's Day, and 'all of Government' campaigns relating to Covid-19 and Brexit. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I can confirm that my attention has not been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and/or press office of my Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy, my Department spent the following as outlined in tabular form on online advertising, for the period 2013-2023. Year Expenditure Comment 2013 Nil 2014 €3,690.00 Winter Ready Twitter campaign 2015 €5,041.78 Winter Ready...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy, my Department’s Press Office has not created social media accounts under false names, for any purpose.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Naval Service (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: As a result of previously acknowledged recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, in particular for specialist positions, the Naval Service has concluded that the LE Roisin should be placed into operational reserve with effect from 31 January 2023 and that the LE Niamh should be placed into operational reserve on completion of its mid-life refit later this year. They...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department is continuing to engage across Government, including through the Senior Officials Group on the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis, in relation to requests for accommodation or other supports that are required from the Defence Organisation in response to the refugee crisis. Following a request from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, I am very concerned by the demolitions and evictions in the occupied Palestinian territory. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian property and humanitarian aid accelerated in 2022, which saw a record number of Palestinians affected by demolitions, evictions and confiscations. I have been consistently forthright in voicing my opposition to Israeli settlement activity,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is doing everything it can within its diplomatic and political capacities, particularly, as I said earlier, in multilateral fora such as the United Nations Security Council, where we have consistently raised these issues. Our position was most recently reiterated on 19 December at the meeting of the UN Security Council which focused on the issue of Israeli settlements, and we were...