Results 121-140 of 46,824 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The ongoing scheme allowing for the re-enlistment of former enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force has assisted in addressing particular skills gaps. The re-enlistment of former personnel with the relevant skills and experience is one of the many actions being pursued to address skills shortages in the PDF. Under the terms and conditions of the scheme, which were agreed with the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces Artillery Corps use Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems to conduct reconnaissance operations, i.e. non-lethal operations. These UAV systems were procured between 2007 and 2009 from Aeronautics Defence Systems Ltd based in Israel following a competitive tender process, and an upgrade of the equipment was carried out by the original equipment manufacturer commencing in 2016....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy may be aware that the largest vessels in the fleet are the P60 class, measuring 90 metres in length. My officials have advised that the berthage facilities do not extend to accommodating a Ship of the dimensions referred to by the Deputy and as my Department has not been advised of any requirements to accommodate such a ship, I am not in a position to advise further.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (11 Jun 2024)

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: Naval Service (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The overall budget for Vote 36 – Defence is delivered under a single programme entitled ‘Defence Policy and Support, Military Capabilities and Operational Outputs’. Dedicated recruitment funding is not identified separately in the Defence Vote, other than a specific budgetary allocation within Subhead A.22.2 (Miscellaneous: Advertising), which provides for advertising...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Minister for housing in respect of this in the context of his relationship or engagement with local authorities on antisocial behaviour and how it is impacting on tenants, neighbours and so forth. We need to have resolute and robust procedures. Generally speaking, there are agreements and so on but they need to be enforced.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy tends to be very accusatory, negative and undermining of everything the Government does in respect of anything to do with Palestine.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's tone was wrong. The Department of Foreign Affairs has been extremely supportive, as have I and successive Ministers, in respect of fellowships for students from Palestine. We have been for quite a number of years. I do not know the precise detail or background of the issue the Deputy raised. She did not approach me previously about it. I will examine the matter, and will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----given that the Department of Foreign Affairs facilitated getting hundreds of Irish citizens and their dependants out of Gaza. There should be a bit of fair play from the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: We are a Department that applies humanitarian approaches to these issues.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will find out. I have not seen-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----the details of that. I will find out what is happening and get it sorted.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Is the Deputy talking about road maintenance or road projects?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is difficult to respond if we do not have clarity on what the Deputy is asking. The Government has allocated increased funding for road maintenance and will be allocating additional sums for road maintenance as well. There should not be an issue.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I know. Different lobby groups come in. The local authorities, TII and so on are there to engage with groups. There has been inflation, which has eaten into a lot of projects and increased their cost, but overall the allocation has increased substantially, both for TII projects and road maintenance.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister allocated additional funding in the interim period to try to deal with the challenges in the public dental health services. There will continue to be challenges there. I will talk to the Minister in respect of the timeline around the review and where that is at present.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon in respect of the case. Also present was a lawyer from the department of defence in Lebanon because the Minister was in hospital with Covid. The lawyer was very conversant with the case. I made clear in no uncertain terms our grave concern at the delay in the progress on the case and certain aspects of it. Notwithstanding the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy. I have spoken to the Minister for Transport on this. Bus Éireann has not facilitated it. It would cite medical issues. I put forward the idea that perhaps we should have an independent reference point from the medical world, for example, in the geriatric world, and people could give us an informed opinion on the point the Deputy made about those aged 70, 71,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. I visited the area and met with many residents. It is quite shocking what the residents in this area have gone through. It is an awful pity that the pipeline, which was 60% completed, was not enabled to go the full distance because a human disaster continues to unfold for the residents of that area. It was heart-rending to see. Even as we...