Results 10,321-10,340 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will follow that up.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their constructive suggestions. I am very much taken by Deputy Smith's point. When talking to military personnel, including those in the Naval Service, Air Corps or Army, there is a strong link back to geography and where barracks were present. Of that there is no doubt. The focus of capital investment at the moment is on upgrading existing facilities but I will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, with procurement you do not spend a whole lot in the early years. To take a radar facility for example, or any building that is planned, it is in the latter stages of the completion that the drawdown happens in respect of capital expenditure, so there can be a progressive increase in capital expenditure over the lifetime of the plan. Deputy Brady and I will have to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Durkan made similar points about the tradition and those areas, similar to what Deputy Smith referenced.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his helpful question. The ministerial air transport service, MATS, is delivered primarily by use of the Learjet 45 aircraft, which came into operation in 2004. Where it is unavailable, the CASA and-or other Air Corps aircraft may be used. The Learjet is currently approaching its natural end of life. Based on current serviceability issues, discontinuation of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy's contribution. His insights are valuable. I did not realise he was a pilot at one stage.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I take the point. The Deputy referred to the Mexican Government crash. That was a shocking crash and a shocking loss of life. There have been issues with the Learjet. There is no point in saying otherwise. There have been serious issues with it. I am not prepared to stand over it. A replacement jet is required. In Afghanistan, we essentially had to depend on other governments to get...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry; I was racing through that a bit. As I said, to date, approximately two thirds of these 38 early actions have been achieved. For example, the head of transformation and the head of strategic HR positions have been advertised externally and progressed. Implementation and governance structures have been developed and initiated, including the establishment of an implementation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their comments. I am in office for just over a month, and I am determined to get beyond the management-speak and to get stuff implemented. I have reflected on the presentations I have received so far. Some progress has been made in some areas, but not fast enough in others. We have discussed the Organisation of Working Time directive. This is not simple. From my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: We have done it across the board and we are going to do it for the Defence Forces. I have asked that this work be expedited to get it completed, and that work continue on the terms and conditions and the overall environment within which people are working.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Yesterday we had statements in the House in relation to the EU Council meeting on 15 December and I reported formally back to the House in respect of that meeting. I have corresponded since my appointment with a number of EU counterparts and I look forward to engaging with them in-person, both bilaterally and in the format of the Foreign Affairs Council and in the Defence Ministers format...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: In which groups?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have to disagree with the Deputy fundamentally because our military neutrality has always been defined based on non-membership of a military alliance. We are not members of a military alliance. We are not members of NATO. That is the definition of Ireland's military neutrality. We have never been politically neutral. We have joined the European Union and have been a member since 1973....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: They are not offensive. They are essentially a training preparation exercise. Our Army cannot be isolationist and not ever meet or engage with any other army or defence forces. That is an absurd position to adopt. Taking cybersecurity as an example, which is a huge threat to the country. Are we to be isolationist in terms of the threat of cybersecurity in this country? Are we to ignore...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 27, 59 and 74 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 9 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 defence...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: There will be a number of representations in respect of a number of barracks that want to be the headquarters, as detailed. In the first instance, the implementation management office is working on the production of a detailed implementation plan for the remaining recommendations. The military authorities are progressing the establishment of an Army force design that will undertake the work...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: It would be premature to designate any barracks with headquarters status until the review of the structure of the Army is completed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Again, that was a decision taken prior to my coming into office but nonetheless it is important to point out the 2023 Revised Estimate for Defence of over €915 million includes an overall pay allocation of €546 million, which is an increase of €19 million on the Revised Estimate for 2022. This overall allocation provides, inter alia, for all costs associated with the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I said, the change is that the prevailing number dictates the allocation, so there will not be an underspend in that respect. It is a sensible approach. The key issue is that the largest budget increase ever experienced by the Department of Defence occurred in the 2023 Estimate. The pay increases have occurred relative to the pay agreements and the recommendations. There are other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: It must also be said there are many people in the Defence Forces who are pursuing very rewarding careers. It is our obligation to facilitate a rewarding and fruitful career for people, and lives for people, within our Defence Forces and there are many factors that can give rise to that. These include opportunities within the Defence Forces for progression, education, further learning,...