Results 9,981-10,000 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland greatly values our relationship with Greece. My predecessor, Minister Coveney, visited Athens last June where he met Minister Dendias and took the opportunity to extend him an open invitation to visit Ireland. Last week, I wrote to the Minister to express my sincere condolences to the people and Government of Greece, following the tragic train accident near Larissa. Within the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (7 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 Birth Registration (7 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: Departmental Policies (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Current legislative language is guided by Interpretation Act 2005 section 18(b)(i), wherein as a matter of statutory interpretation, words referring to the masculine gender are taken to refer to the female gender, and vice versa. Regarding the drafting of policies, the Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all colleagues feel...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The network of Embassies, consular missions and representative offices overseas are staffed by Irish civil servants from this Department and other Government Departments. These officers are posted for specific durations and may be accompanied by their family members. My Department operates a School Fees Assistance Scheme to enable an officer's accompanying children to continue to receive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTI+ persons, who continue to suffer disproportionate levels of violence and face systematic discrimination in many countries, is a domestic and foreign policy priorityfor Ireland. Globally, working with like-minded partners, Ireland’s mission network plays an active role in advocating for the rights of LGBTI+ persons, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland plays a leadership role at both EU and UN level in taking a consistent, clear, and firm position in relation to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland engages regularly on this issue in the context of the EU, including through my attendance at the EU Foreign Affairs Council and regular bilateral contacts with my EU counterparts. At the Foreign Affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 337, inclusive, together. As of 1 March 2023, Ireland is contributing 546 personnel to 7 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 344 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Government has recently approved Ireland's participation in the next German-led EU Battlegroup, 2025, which will involve a two-year commitment from 1 January 2024. Battlegroups are a key component of the capabilities that the EU can make available in support of UN-authorised crisis management operations. As a concept, the purpose of the Battlegroup is as a rapid response capability,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 to 341, inclusive, together. As you are aware, on 21 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together. The following table details the current strength and establishment of the Permanent Defence Force, as of the 31 January 2023. Current Strength (WTE) Agreed Strength Permanent Defence Force 7,959 9,500 Army 6,459 7,520 Air Corps...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Air Corps, as at 1 March 2023, is 706 whole time equivalent personnel. The table below shows the breakdown requested. Personnel Stream Strength as at 01/03/2023 Qualified pilots 96 Cadets currently completing military training* 14 Young officers...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: 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 a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. In terms of fishery protection the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 to 348, inclusive, together. As at 31 January 2023, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 563 whole time equivalent female members of the Permanent Defence Force out of a total WTE strength of 7,959. On the same date, 27 female members were serving overseas in addition to 1 female seconded to the UN. The requested breakdown of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The Government remains absolutely committed to the advancement of the RDF. The White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve and the Government remains fully committed to this. The strength of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve. As of 31 January 2023, the effective female strength of the RDF is 187 members. In line with current policies and commitments, a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Trade Fairs (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: There was no attendance from the Department of Defence at this event. I am also informed by the Military authorities that no Defence Force representative attended this event.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: To date, in my capacity as Minister for Defence, I have not spoken with the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Mr. Ben Wallace MP. However, I intend to engage collectively and bilaterally with international colleagues as and when the opportunities present themselves. In that regard, I look forward to an opportunity to speak or meet with the UK Secretary of State for Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (7 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Investment in new equipment for the Defence Forces is provided for under various Subheads of the Defence Vote relating to defensive equipment, mechanical transport, aircraft, ships and naval stores, engineering, communications and information technology equipment etc. I am advised that the amount spent on purchasing military equipment from companies based in France and Canada in 2021, 2022...