Results 10,861-10,880 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The key to this is we are at the optimum staffing level. I have discussed this with officials with regard to the balance between temporary and permanent. Competitions through the Public Appointments Service, PAS, and so on are necessary, but we have to make sure we have a critical number of staff that can do all of this. We have the budget for it. While obviously the pandemic was a big...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I agree with that. We all know, from people who contact us, to check expiry dates and everything else a month or two before getting on the plane. It can happen. It is human nature. People are very anxious as well. It is their holiday, which is a big event for the family, or it may be a job. There is total understanding of where people are coming from. We just have to respond as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Schemes (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has not put in place a compensation or redress scheme since 1998.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (14 Feb 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: Consular Services (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland currently has over 80 Honorary Consuls operating in more than 50 countries across the globe. Our global network of Honorary Consuls offers vital support to the Government across a range of priorities, including providing a means of meeting the needs of Irish citizens and the Government in regions where we do not have a resident diplomatic Mission. The services provided by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s diplomatic relations with Barbados are currently established through Ireland’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. In December 2022, a Government Decision was approved by Cabinet to seek the accreditation of the Embassy of Ireland in Washington D.C. to Barbados, with the objective of enhancing relations between Ireland and Barbados. The relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Fisheries Protection (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continue to work to address issues related to Rockall, reflecting the longstanding fisheries tradition in the area. I last discussed the matter with Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon in November. We agreed to continue to prioritise this matter and to continue to work together to seek to resolve outstanding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application to which the Deputy has referred, the Passport Service has been unable to issue a refund to date as the Passport Service does not hold payment details for the applicant. The Passport Service emailed the applicant on 12 July 2021 advising the applicant to call the Passport Service contact number provided in the email to provide payment details for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I travelled to Washington DC for a series of high-level meetings and engagements on 8-9 February, including with senior figures in the Biden Administration and the State Department, as well as with members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. I had a positive and productive meeting with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on 8 February. This was a timely opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: While Haiti does not appear as an agenda item on the provisional agenda set for the next meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, the European Union remains actively engaged on the deeply concerning situation in Haiti, notably the disturbing levels of insecurity and violence, the humanitarian needs of the Haitian people, and the human rights situation. Ireland and the EU continue to urge...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: A Working Group on Medical Care was established in 2021 to bring forward proposals and identify an approach to implementing the Programme for Government commitment to ensure all enlisted members of the Defence Forces have the same access to healthcare as officers currently do. Its work included analysing the range and cost of treatments currently provided to Officers and how best to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Schemes (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The table below sets out the details of compensations or redress schemes put in place by my Department since 1998. Scheme No. of Claimants Total Cost Loss of Earnings Scheme for Civil Defence Volunteers due to Covid-19 Illness 1 €440 The scheme set out above relates to Covid-19 Illness Loss. In March 2020, in line...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. On each occasion that the support of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (14 Feb 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 (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that the numbers of those with paramedic/advanced paramedic qualifications in the Defence Forces during the periods requested is as follows: Qualification 2020 (at 31 Dec) 2021 (at 31 Dec) 2022 (at 31 Dec) 2023 (at 31 Jan) Advanced Paramedic (AP) 16 15 10 19 Paramedic 30 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: A civilian consultant psychiatrist has been engaged full-time in the Defence Forces since 2020. There are no plans to recruit any additional psychiatrists at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Travel (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) is delivered primarily by the 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 manufacturer support and limited part...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: As requested by the Deputy, the Military Authorities have advised of the number of sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape complaints that have been made against serving members of the Defence Forces, by other members, in 2021 and 2022, as detailed in the following table. Year Complaints of Sexual Assault Complaints of Sexual Harassment Complaints of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have been advised by the Military Authorities that the Defence Forces Grievance Management Office were made aware of six bullying complaints against serving members, by other members in 2021 and five bullying complaints in 2022, as detailed in the following table; Year Number of Complaints Nature of Complaint Rank of Accused* 2021 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Any complaint or allegation of unacceptable behaviour in the Defence Forces is subject to administrative investigative procedures. Unacceptable behaviour as outlined in Defence Forces Administrative Instruction A7 and includes, but is not limited to, allegations of sexual harassment, harassment, discrimination and/or bullying. Administrative Instruction A7 Chapter 1 is the Defence Forces...