Results 9,501-9,520 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland joined the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in 2017, the establishment of which represents a further development in EU Cooperation in support of international peace and security under CSDP. Under PESCO, Member States come together in different project groups to develop and make available additional capabilities and enablers for peacekeeping and crisis management operations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland joined the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in 2017, the establishment of which represents a further development in EU Cooperation in support of international peace and security under CSDP. Under PESCO, Member States come together in different project groups to develop and make available additional capabilities and enablers for peacekeeping and crisis management operations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) provides the European Union with an operational capacity to deploy civilian and military missions and operations abroad. Their tasks range from conflict prevention and peace-keeping, crisis management, joint disarmament operations, and military advice and assistance tasks to humanitarian and rescue and post-conflict stabilisation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. As of 1 June 2023, Ireland is contributing 522 personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 319 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 135...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: As a serving member of the Defence Forces approaches retirement, either on age grounds or voluntarily, there are a range of supports made available to them by the Defence Forces. Transition to Civilian Life courses are conducted by Defence Forces Personnel Support Service teams throughout the year. These courses are aimed at personnel who are retiring on age grounds or who are simply...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 263 together. The following table details the total number of personnel who discharged from the Permanent Defence Forces in each of the years 2017 to 2023 (as at 30thApril): Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023* Total Discharges 742 740 882...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Military Authorities have advised that the number of persons medically discharged or retired from the Defence Forces in each of the years 2017 to date, is as follows: Year Number of Medical Discharges/Retirements 2017 27 2018 29 2019 10 2020 27 2021 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The table below gives details of the age profile, in cohorts of 5 year increments, for persons currently in receipt of a military pension. The data provided relates to pensions arising from service in the Defence Forces which are payable under the following schemes;occupational service pensions under the Defence Forces Superannuation Schemesdisability pensions under the Army Pensions Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Pensions for former members of the Defence Forces are governed by the provisions of the Defence Forces Superannuation Schemes for service pensions, and the Army Pensions Acts for disability pensions. Unfortunately, it is not possible to quantify fully the number of personnel who are in receipt of a pension and who were retired or received a medical discharge on the basis of being Below...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department provides support to two recognised Veterans Associations. These Veterans Associations, which represent all former personnel, are Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). My Department engages on an ongoing basis with these Veterans Associations and with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Costings for additional numbers must be subject to a detailed workforce planning exercise that needs to consider rank and organisational structure, technical qualifications, allowances, etc and align with the move to LOA2. In that context, and commensurate with the associated levels of organisational and structural change required, final, definitive costings are currently not available. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255, 266 and 267 together. 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. The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The core crew complement for the current classes of Naval Service vessels are:P50 Class – 44P60 Class – 44P70 Class – 20 Minimum crewing levels are dependent on the number of available personnel at each grade and for each specialist position that is required for a ship go to sea while meeting minimum health and safety requirements. Should any ship be below the minimum...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: In July 2022, the Government approved a move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces. As part of that decision, the Government committed to increasing the Defence budget from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion at 2022 prices, by 2028, as part of the annual budgetary process. This level of investment will allow for the required...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 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. The Defence Forces Armoured Personnel Carrier fleet consists of 80 vehicles which are in use at home and overseas. Within the fleet of 80 vehicles, there are a number of different types: Standard VariantCommand Variant Close Reconnaissance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Naval Service Vessel Renewal and Replacement Programme is ongoing. The programme includes radar and other equipment upgrades along with the replacement of Naval Service Reserve motor launches. The programme of works for the midlife refit and upgrade of LÉ Róisín has been completed, while works are ongoing on LÉ Niamh. Marine Advisors have been appointed to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The development of a primary radar capability was one of the key recommendations made in last year's report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Demonstrating the Government’s commitment to implementing this recommendation, one of the Early Actions identified in the subsequent High Level Action Plan published in response to the Commission’s report, was to commence planning...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: In terms of cybersecurity, the primary role of the Defence Forces relates to the defence and security of their own networks and systems. This important role is being developed in the context of the High Level Action Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and will grow in importance as threats in the cyber space increase. The recommendation by the Commission on the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Vote 36 Defence is managed through a single programme with all operational outputs delivered from a single set of forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Accordingly, my Department does not allocate funding by domain. The principal demand drivers of Defence capital requirements are the ongoing acquisition and renewal of military equipment, along with the development and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am informed by the military authorities that it was not possible to collate the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available.