Results 1,921-1,940 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: With its approval of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Government committed to a range of actions to address pay and recruitment issues in the Defence Forces. These include a number of projects undertaken to bolster the attractiveness of a career in the Defence Forces, and cover a range of measures which will improve pay and conditions. It is also worth noting in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that as of 31 August 2024, the latest date for which such information is available, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,426. I have acknowledged in the past the recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces. To address these I have introduced a number of measures. These include an increase in recruitment age to 39 years...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

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 to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. I am advised by the Military Authorities that all equipment is regularly inspected, maintained and tested in line with the Safety,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. The primary function of training in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. The Defence Forces conduct training under four broad categories, namely: Leadership, Skills, Career, and Collective. Leadership Training is the medium through...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Table below contains the strength for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and Reserve Defence Force (RDF) as of 31 August 2024, the latest date for which such figures are available: PDF RDF Army 5,961 1,456 Naval Service 745 97 Air Corps 720 N/A ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces. A number of initiatives to both attract females and to retain serving female members are in train. For example: Steps being taken to encourage increased female recruitment include engagement with girls schools The appointment of a female member of staff to engage with female candidates A...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

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 main 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 relation to fisheries protection, the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces continually monitors staffing requirements and vacancies which can arise as a result of factors such as retirements and promotions. All promotions throughout the three Services i.e. the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps are administered promptly and there are no delays currently. To date in 2024, a total of 181 Officers have been promoted to vacancies across the Army,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are a range of allowances available to Defence Forces members on overseas deployments, which have been received by personnel over the past ten years where eligible. The two most common are Overseas Peace Support Allowance (OPSA) and Overseas Armed Peace Support Allowance (OAPSA). Overseas and Armed Peace Support allowances are paid along with the pay of the members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces continue to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including security operations, critical supports to An Garda Síochána and ATCA supports to other Government Departments and Principal Response Agencies. I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be equipped and trained to best international standards and I can confirm...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by the military authorities that, as at 31 August 2024, the whole time equivalent strength of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 563. A breakdown of this strength, by Branch and by rank is provided in the attached table. In line with current policies and commitments, a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Cases (16 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Depending on the subject matter, litigation against my Department is dealt with by the Attorney General’s Office and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency. The table below sets out the number of cases commenced against the Department over the past 10 years, as well as all legal costs paid by the Department each year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (16 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department documents personal data breaches that have occurred in accordance with Article 33(5) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The table below sets out the number of data breaches reported to the Office of the Data Protection Commission (DPC) since the introduction of the GDPR on 25 May 2018 in respect of which this Department bore principal responsibility. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (16 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: This Department has assigned to it the Minister for Foreign Affairs, currently the Tánaiste, the Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora and the Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs. The total costs of trips abroad on official business by Ministers of this Department are set out in the table below. Year ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (16 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not employ third parties to deal with public relations.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Consultations (16 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is not possible in the time available to extract the requested information spanning more than ten years. Details of the total amount of consultancy fees for 2023 and January-September 2024 are set out in the table below. The Department is extracting the remaining information requested and will forward the reply to the Deputy in due course. Year Total Amount...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (16 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs uses public awareness campaigns and advertising, both traditional and online, to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad, such as passport and consular services, and to promote Irish interests and values internationally. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (16 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I wish to thank the Deputy for bringing this case to my attention. I appreciate that this is a difficult situation for the citizen concerned and I want to assure you that my Department will do all that it can to assist the citizen, where possible, within the remit of the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter. I can confirm that an official from the Consular Assistance Unit is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to my engagement with Israel, I refer the Deputy to my recent response of 10 October under reference I condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent attacks on UNIFIL positions, causing injury to several peacekeepers. The targeting of UNIFIL by the IDF cannot be accepted. Israel has an obligation to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers. Attacks against...