Results 461-480 of 1,037,555 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:Declan Breathnach OR speaker:John Lahart OR speaker:Micheál Martin) in 'Committee meetings'

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have five personnel involved in that. It is not a huge number. Our purpose on that is to make sure that there no illegal weaponry or arms are going to the forces in Libya. That is the primary function. It is a European Union military CSDP operation-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: At present, it is primarily tasked with supporting the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya. The operation is important. The secondary tasks involve implementing UN measures against illicit exports of petroleum from Libya and capacity building and training the Libyan Coast Guard and navy in disrupting the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks. In any event,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: At a European level, there has been a strategic assessment of the mission. A decision will be made at European level as to the continuation of the mission. We have six members on it. They are stationed at the operational headquarters in Rome and are serving in staff officer posts. In the summer of 2023, 58 personnel were deployed as part of Operation Irini for a period of six weeks. I...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: In an earlier period, relationships with local communities in Tebnine and places like that were very strong. However, our troops are no longer stationed in these areas. In the past, a different approach was adopted in terms of the configuration in barracks and so on. It was almost a community-based approach. Hezbollah has heightened tensions deliberately, in our view, in terms of its...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are approximately 1.5 million Syrians in Lebanon. That is creating tensions. I have been to Lebanon on a number of occasions in the past year and invariably the issue is raised by the foreign minister that the European Union and others are saying that Syrians in Lebanon are not in a position to go back to Syria because it is not safe for them. The Lebanese counter by saying it is safe...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: You have a lot of militia groups, the government of Syria, a lot of proxies and various neighbouring countries with significant interests such as Iran, Israel, the US or, dare I say it, Russia. It is very challenging. The situation seems to be a long way from any kind of stable resolution. Türkiye is another neighbour that has interests there. Everyone is protecting their own...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy mentioned evacuations. UNIFIL will make a decision on that, although we should remember that this is a very difficult scenario. UNIFIL is there to keep the peace - not to flee at the first moment of trouble. That is the challenge. We have had previous episodes globally that led to horrors when there was either a premature or unplanned evacuation. I am conscious that modern...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The following motion has been placed on the Order Paper for Dáil Éireann and was referred to this committee: That Dáil Éireann approves Ireland's participation in the following: (i) two Permanent Structured Cooperation Projects in accordance with the Programme for Government commitment: (a) Network of Logistic Hubs in Europe and Support to Operations, and (b) ...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry, what was the last question? Do we-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: No.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: This is voluntary opt-in. I want to say overall that "No" is the answer to that - an emphatic "No". We will be under no obligations. These are opt-in and on a voluntary basis, as I said, but I do think we need to. The Deputy suggested that she is objecting to the process here. Government has to take decisions in the normal course of events, and the Oireachtas has to take decisions. This...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: My point is that what PESCO is about is improving our capabilities. The EDA is about improving our capabilities. On issues like cybersecurity and undersea cables, collaboration is the name of the game. Why? The reason is that there is a lot of expertise about the place and we have to share knowledge. When the HSE was attacked, two of the first countries that contacted us - and I was...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: On the logistic hubs, we do not have to join any logistic hubs but we do see value here. Say we were on a peacekeeping mission and we had to evacuate quickly. The idea of having a hub, or being part of a logistics hub on the European mainland, could be advantageous to safe and more rapid evacuation. That is why, I think, our military personnel were anxious to join this particular project....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes, of course.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Of course, absolutely. I am talking generally about the noise that is around this issue.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is well documented. The current strength of the Naval Service is 716 and the establishment is 1,941.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have two. We have one permanently on the go.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have just been informed it is two. The surveillance of undersea cables is not all about ships, however.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have very strong surveillance now with the two new aeroplanes that came on board, the C295s. They have far greater advanced technology than anything previous to them and they have significantly enhanced overall maritime surveillance. However, the optimal position-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Motion (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have a major logistics investment in a plane with strategic lift capability. I think we should have it by next year. It is a C295 but it is a variation of it which will enable us to carry out strategic lifts of citizens out of crisis areas. We have two C295s already. There is a third major investment coming and it should be ready and available to us next year.