Results 9,701-9,720 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is an independent statutory agency with responsibility for standards in the field of pre-hospital emergency care, including setting rules on the privileging of paramedic and advanced paramedics. PHECC, also maintains a statutory register of Emergency Medical Service practitioners; which includes Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Paramedics...

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

Micheál Martin: In 2020, an individual commenced considerable correspondence detailing allegations of sexual misconduct within the Permanent Defence Force. The incidences spanned a broad period between the 1970s and 1990s. The allegations included one of the existence of a paedophile ring in the Curragh Camp. The individual sought an acknowledgement that abuse happened, a statement of apology and...

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

Micheál Martin: This past year has transformed the European security and defence landscape. The EU has had to respond to war on the continent of Europe with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. This is reflected in a significant increase in investment in defence expenditure across Europe as well as the decision by Finland and Sweden to join NATO, which reduces further the number of non-NATO...

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

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to outline the significant investments we are making in improving the Defence Forces built infrastructure, including improving accommodation facilities for our personnel. This year we are providing some €55m in improving our built infrastructure; a record allocation which will increase in the years ahead to match the roll out of new...

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

Micheál Martin: Thank you Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the significant investments we are making in improving the Defence Forces built infrastructure. The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of anticipated project delivery based on the achievement of the high-level goals as set out in White Paper 2015. A key feature of the IDP is the modernisation and...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 41 together. 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...

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

Micheál Martin: My officials and the Defence Forces continue to engage with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to the protection of Ireland’s offshore energy infrastructure and data cables. While the Defence Forces have limited sub-sea capabilities, enhanced maritime patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore energy infrastructure and data...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 49 and 245 together. As of the 28 February 2023, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,917 personnel. Recruitment and retention difficulties in the Defence Forces have been previously acknowledged and the Defence Forces are developing strategies to achieve increased recruitment and to address the current shortfall in numbers. The...

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. The report of the Commission was published on 9th February 2022. The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level...

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

Micheál Martin: The so-called “Triple Lock” mechanism, which sets out the requirements for the deployment of the Defence Forces for peacekeeping operations overseas, is set down in legislation, in particular the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 and the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, as amended. The legislation provides that: - the operation must be mandated by the United Nations; - it must...

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

Micheál Martin: Following an assessment of overseas commitments and on military advice, I have taken the decision to withdraw an Infantry Group, comprising some 130 personnel, from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with effect from April 2024. The decision to withdraw the Infantry Group personnel was taken in order for the Defence Forces to undertake a process of consolidation with...

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

Micheál Martin: Civilian Employees are employed by my Department to support the operational capability of the Defence Forces. The recruitment of Civilian Employees for military instillations is an ongoing process, informed by prioritisation of posts by military management. In addition, there are 15 civil servants embedded in military units providing a range of specialist inputs including procurement,...

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 have been a number of recent key pay improvements for Defence Forces personnel, which I will outline. With its approval of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022, the Government committed to a range of measures which have (and will) positively impact pay and conditions for personnel.My Department has already implemented two of the pay-related recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: As set out in response to previous Parliamentary Questions, I cannot comment on reports concerning arrangements for national security. The Government’s engagement in international security cooperation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: All Department of Foreign Affairs official mobile devices and apps which run on them comply with guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review by the NCSC. The Department of Foreign Affairs requires all users of our official devices to exercise appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Inquiries (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Where a child's guardian is deceased, the Passport Service requests the original death certificate of the deceased guardian, consent of the surviving guardian and a Sole Guardian Affidavit from the surviving guardian confirming that they are the only guardian of the child, in order to satisfy guardian consent requirements. A Sole Guardian Affidavit is requested with each subsequent passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Social Media (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Departmental staff are required, at all times, to follow the Civil Service Code of Conduct in their duties as civil servants and representatives of the Department. The Department maintains specific guidelines in respect of the use of personal/unofficial social media accounts by Departmental officials. These guidelines state that Departmental staff can use social media in their own personal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and procedures that are applied by the Passport Service in the issuing of passports. Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on their birth certificate or...