Results 341-360 of 45,774 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy cannot have it both ways, though. When the independent review was published, he was the first in here asking if I was going to accept its recommendations. I have accepted its recommendations in respect of the external oversight body. There was a very clear communication made to me that previous attempts at this did not work and had not worked. There is no point in coming into...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. The Irish Defence and Security Association, IDSA, was established in 2021 with a mission "to ensure Ireland develops appropriate, leading-edge and trusted defence and security capabilities in the land, sea, air, space and cyber domains, in order to protect our society, create jobs, drive research and enhance Ireland’s economic growth"....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Meetings (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: This group is not under the aegis of my Department. The Department believes and I believe that there are similar groups all over member states. There is an arms industry out there. We purchase weaponry. To engage in peacekeeping, it is necessary to procure weaponry. I met with the EDA chief executive. Our participation in it is fairly low-key. The role of the EDA in the broader context...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. To date, Ireland has participated in 14 projects with the European Defence Agency, EDA, six of which are completed and eight are ongoing. These projects include areas such as joint procurement, cyber, military search capability, maritime surveillance and counter-improvised explosive devices. Ireland's participation in EDA projects is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: First, any iteration, change or shift in CSDP within the EU will have to have respect for what we term the "specific characteristics" of policies of certain states including Ireland, Austria and Malta. That statement was made in the context of the Russian threat to the security of Europe. There is a real sense of vulnerability in terms of the war economy that is now, in essence, the driving...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The essential issue here is European defence capability more broadly in terms of the European defence industry. Concern has been expressed across the EU about its inability to manufacture and develop-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: We are part of the European Defence Agency. We are a militarily neutral state. We are not aligned or part of a mutual defence pact but we do have to enhance our own capability. Certainly, we can be part of joint projects in terms of procurement. There is no issue there; that is allowed for in terms of investment and how we go about that investment. Joint procurement under the EDA is one...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. The general scheme of the defence (amendment) Bill includes a number of proposed provisions, including provisions relating to the membership of the external oversight body. The provisions fully reflect the recommendations of the independent review group, IRG, report relating to the composition of the membership of the body. The recommendation does not...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. It is important to state that defence and security remain national competences and will continue to require unanimity in EU decision-making. Any decision to alter these arrangements would require a change to the European treaties. Furthermore, the specific character of Ireland's security and defence policy, as set out in the protocols attached to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: What I articulated in my reply was the factual position currently. Through our work on the Middle East, we have demonstrated that we have an independent foreign policy position and that we are working to bring other member states with us. The Deputy has discussed the Middle East a great deal in the House, but I will bring something to his attention. At the Foreign Affairs Council, FAC,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have noticed a trend in that the Deputy tends to try to create wedge issues or sow confusion and doubt. Defence and security remain national competences and will continue to require unanimity in EU decision-making. That is the bottom line. Trade, including the conduct of trade agreements, is an EU competence. That has been the case for a considerable time and has been advantageous to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: No, I am not.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It requires unanimity-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not conceding anything.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Council (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As far as I am concerned, it requires unanimity. What I would have preferred would have been to be able to do more on Gaza and for 26 member states to count for something.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been advised by Military Management that four Israeli Defence Forces personnel attended training courses conducted at the UN Training School in the Curragh during 2018 and 2019 as follows: In 2018 two Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Personnel attended the International Civil Military Relations Course. In the same year one other IDF member attended the International Protection of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Between the 1st of January 2024 and the 14th of March 2024, my Department received twenty (20) new litigation cases. While the volume of cases received can fluctuate throughout the year, and from one year to another, this figure is broadly in line with figures from previous years for the same period. At the same point in 2023, my Department had received fourteen (14) new cases. The figure...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published following Government approval on 28 March 2023. The Government agreed to progress the 13 recommendations contained in the Report. Some actions have already been completed while others will take further time due to the requirement for legislative change. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The recruitment and retention challenges experienced by the Defence Forces are well documented. The numbers leaving the Defence Forces exceed the numbers recruited year on year, resulting in a continued decline in the overall strength level. While significant measures have been undertaken to improve the overall package in the Defence Forces, the decline in numbers has continued. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I would like to thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the recent and planned future improvements to Defence Infrastructure throughout the State which is unparalleled in our history. There are currently over €147m worth of IDP projects underway at different stages of development, many of which are specific to addressing operational and living-in accommodation...