Results 9,661-9,680 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

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

Micheál Martin: To be fair to all concerned, it must be acknowledged that there have been improvements in pay, conditions and various allowances over the last two and a half years. That progress will continue. Unrelenting negativity being articulated all the time by the Defence Forces is not optimal either. There can be room for improvement, but there comes a time when we must affirm and promote the...

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

Micheál Martin: Yes, I do. We have a timeframe within the Department. It is being discussed at the moment in the scheme.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: We are acutely aware of the situation facing the Naval Service with respect to staff numbers. A number of initiatives have been taken, including increasing the pay rates significantly compared with previous rates. Current pay rates in the first three years of service, including military service allowances, for the rank of private, three-star able seaman start at €37,147 in year 1 and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have made it clear I want the working time directive to be introduced. A conciliation arbitration facility is in place in which engagement and discussions with the representative organisations are taking place. That is the forum where these issues will be resolved and they need to be resolved. I will not engage in a megaphone approach to those discussions. They must be resolved in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The sea cables relate to a much broader issue that involves other colleagues.

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

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Without question, military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. For this reason, compulsory retirement ages for ranks in the Permanent Defence Force have historically been considerably lower than in other types of employment and...

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

Micheál Martin: That policy emerged in the 1990s for different reasons and in a different context. The issue the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is concerned about is fast accrual pensions. I have had discussions with the Minister. An interdepartmental group is working on this matter because it applies across the board, not only to military personnel but...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: We have been involved in PESCO for years now and it has not impacted our military neutrality. Our military neutrality is defined by whether we are members of a military alliance and we are clearly not a member of a military alliance. We are not members of NATO and we do not participate in a European Union common defence pact; there is no such pact. I am at a loss to how the Deputy can...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Successive Secretaries General of the United Nations have endorsed the development of the EU battle group concept and Ireland's participation in it. As I said, participation in EU battle groups supports the development of rapid deployment skills and capabilities within the Defence Forces and would improve interoperability with like-minded states. It ultimately assists us in participating in...