Results 9,681-9,700 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: That is the reality of the triple lock.

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

Micheál Martin: The triple lock is about a mandate from the UN Security Council. Putin is more interested in the Wagner Group being in Africa than a UN peacekeeping force being there. That is the reality so we need to discuss this issue without throwing around slogans and all of that.

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

Micheál Martin: The Government has previously acknowledged, as do I, the current staffing difficulties in the Naval Service, and the Defence Forces in general. In response to the specific challenges in the Naval Service, a comprehensive regeneration plan is being progressed and monitored by a high-level civil and military team. The aim of this plan is to address all of the issues, including human resource...

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

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the question. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable them to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. Two inshore patrol vessels were purchased for €26 million on a government-to-government basis from New Zealand to replace the now...

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

Micheál Martin: Deputy Clarke should acknowledge that the pay and conditions have improved significantly over the past two years, particularly for new recruits, and compare favourably with other employments and occupations. Those coming in after the leaving certificate enjoy a base rate of approximately €37,000. The basic pay has increased and there have been other improvements. There will be...

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

Micheál Martin: I will be bringing proposals in respect of that matter to the Government shortly. I have met the flag officer and visited Haulbowline. I met the Chief of Staff and his team in respect of recruitment and retention issues, more specifically in respect of the Naval Service because the numbers are not what they should be and need to be significantly increased. On pay and conditions,...

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

Micheál Martin: Neither the decision to withdraw the Defence Forces infantry group from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force nor the decision that the Defence Forces should participate in the next European Union battle group has any implications for Ireland's long-standing position of military neutrality. I note the Deputy did not explain how he has come to the view that it does. At the time...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 35 together. Two Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) were purchased for €26 million on a Government to Government basis from New Zealand, to replace the now decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara. The ceremonial handover of the vessels took place in Auckland last week, representing the culmination of a year long project to regenerate and modify...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Minister for Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Accordingly, responsibility for the security aspect of border control rests with An Garda Síochána, while the Revenue Commissioners also have responsibilities relating to their particular mandate. Among the roles assigned to the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has been a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) since 1999. Our relationship with NATO is partner-led, which allows us to choose those areas on which we wish to cooperate and the extent to which we wish to cooperate. Over the past 24 years, participation in Partnership for Peace has been fundamental to Ireland being able to keep abreast of developments in areas such as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Union (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Let me be clear, participation in a Battlegroup has no effect on our traditional policy of military neutrality which is characterised by non-participation in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. The decision to participate in an EU Battlegroup does not presume any further decision in relation to participation in an actual Battlegroup operation. Any such decision is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 17 and 42 together. On 21st February, the Government approved the participation of up to 30 Defence Forces’ personnel in the newly established European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The primary role of the Defence Forces will be to provide training to members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) in one or...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The benefit of the 2% pay increase effective from 1 March 2023 under the extension of the Building Momentum Agreement 2022-2023 is applicable to the vast majority of Defence Forces pensioners. Currently there are in excess of 13,100 Defence Forces pensioners in receipt of payments. The existing government pension policy, as it applies to the Defence Forces, is as follows: For Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I last met both Permanent Defence Forces Representative Associations, RACO and PDFORRA, on 13th February this year. At this meeting, we had discussions on a number of key issues, including on pay and conditions matters for Defence Forces personnel. There have been a number of key recent improvements in pay for Defence Forces personnel, which I will take this opportunity to outline to the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 22 together. The military authorities advise that as at the end of February 2023, the number of personnel in the Defence Forces stood at 7,917, some 83% of the authorised strength of 9,500. The Defence Forces are developing strategies to achieve increased recruitment and to address the current shortfall in numbers. The longer-term target is to realise...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (23 Mar 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 required,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: 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 the 9th February 2022. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is a specific process in place concerning the award of medals to members of the Defence Forces, as set out in Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9 and the associated Administration Instructions, wherein the qualifying criteria and procedures required for the awarding of Defence Forces Medals, in addition to the various types of medal awards, are delineated. Such awards are made on the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 28, 39 and 51 together. As of 1 March 2023, some 546 Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed overseas. The main overseas missions are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 344 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 133 personnel. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will appreciate that, for sound reasons, it is not the practice to comment on the security infrastructure in place for undersea cables nor would it be in the public interest to do so. The Naval Service, as the State's principal sea-going agency, is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main daily tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery...