Results 10,181-10,200 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain gravely concerned by the situation in Nicaragua. The continued human rights violations, crackdowns on opposition voices, on civil society and on independent media, together with backsliding on democratic norms, are unacceptable. Ireland and the EU have used all channels of engagement available to call on the Nicaraguan authorities to put an end to repression and to restore full...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his serious medical condition. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement on the citizen's case with the Iranian authorities at senior political and official levels. I emphasised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Disaster Response (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland responded rapidly to the devastating earthquake which hit Türkiye and Syria on 6 February. That day, we allocated €2 million in emergency assistance for the people of the region. On 13 February I announced further allocation of €8 million, bringing the total direct Irish response to the earthquake to €10 million. This response will focus on the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department engages in advertising and public awareness campaigns for the promotion of Ireland around the world, and in cases where there is a need to bring important information to the attention of citizens. Some examples of these campaigns include: the Online Passport Renewals Service, the “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” campaign, public information on travel restrictions due...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The nature of the core work of the Department of Foreign Affairs is such that almost all staff engage in public-facing communication – be it our diplomats representing Ireland abroad or DFA staff providing essential passport or consular services to Irish citizens. Communication takes place in a variety of ways: through traditional press and media outlets, through external engagements...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has been supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainian people both bilaterally and through the EU budget since Russia's full-scale invasion was launched on 24 February 2022. Ireland’s support has been directed at addressing the humanitarian consequences of the invasion, as well as supporting the Ukrainian government, public services and economy. Ireland was among the first to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Cases (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has no record of any discrimination cases being taken and won on any of the protected grounds over the last ten years.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Irish Sign Language (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Sign Language Act, 2017, recognises Irish Sign Language (ISL) as a native language of the State and provides that the “community of persons using ISL shall have the right to use, develop and preserve Irish Sign Language”. My Department is committed to meeting the requirements of the Act to do all that is reasonable to ensure free ISL translation services for ISL...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by the military authorities that it is intended to launch cadetship competitions, supported by a specific media campaign, for all three services of the Defence Forces before the end of Q1, 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Claims Agency (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353, 354 and 355 together. The questions raised by the Deputy could not be answered in the time allowed. The information required to provide an answer to the questions is not held by the Department. The Deputy will be aware that all claims for personal injuries taken by current and former members of the Defence Forces have been delegated to the State Claims...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Communications (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have corresponded with a number of my Defence counterparts and I look forward to engaging with them in-person, both bilaterally and in the format of the Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers format. In early March, I will attend an informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Stockholm, which will be an opportunity to engage with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. My officials will collate same and I will arrange to have this data provided to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Advertising (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy, my Department spent the following amounts on advertising and promotion in 2022 and January 2023: Year Purpose of Advertising Amount Paid 2022 Newspaper/Twitter for Be Winter Ready and Be Summer Ready campaigns €94,057.17 Newspaper advertisements seeking expressions of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of Communications staff currently employed in my Department is 4.5. The cost of salaries, including employer PRSI, for those staff in 2022 was €288,496.81 and it is expected to cost approximately €315,000 in 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I take it the Deputy is referring specifically to allowances paid to serving members who are engaged on security duties in the Border counties. A specific Border Duty Allowance was introduced in January 1972. It is similar to Security Duty Allowance which is payable to Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel engaged on extended security duties in non-border areas. This includes for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Government remains fully committed to the advancement of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The 2015 White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve and this is not in question. The Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF), published last February, equally serves to reinforce that commitment and the Report...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: As at 31 January 2023, there were 7,959 Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel. The following table shows the requested breakdown by rank. OFFICER LT GEN MAJ GEN BRIG GEN COL LT COL COMDT CAPT LT 1 2 7 38 132 343 317 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: As at 31 January 2023, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 563. The table below shows the number of women in the Permanent Defence Force in each of the last 5 years. Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Total 564 598 603 598 601 The Defence Forces are an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been working across Government in the provision of accommodation and other supports required of the Defence Organisation in response to the Ukrainian crisis since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. Following a request from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, lands at Gormanston military installation, Co. Meath were...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Legal Cases (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The question raised by the Deputy could not be answered in the time allowed. Personal Injuries claims are delegated to the State Claims Agency to manage on behalf of the Minister for Defence. The Chief State Solicitor’s Office provides legal representation in respect of all other types of claims taken against the Minister for Defence for example Judicial Review, Employment Law...