Results 521-540 of 1,130,237 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:Neasa Hourigan OR speaker:Simon Harris OR speaker:John McGuinness OR speaker:Paul Donnelly OR speaker:Michael Lowry OR speaker:Bríd Smith OR speaker:Micheál Martin OR speaker:Ossian Smyth OR speaker:James Lawless OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Thomas Byrne OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:Cathal Berry OR speaker:Paul Murphy OR speaker:Cormac Devlin OR speaker:John Lahart OR speaker:David Cullinane OR speaker:Darragh O'Brien OR speaker:Fergus O'Dowd OR speaker:Martin Heydon OR speaker:David Stanton OR speaker:Gino Kenny OR speaker:Imelda Munster OR speaker:Patrick Costello OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Pauline Tully OR speaker:Charlie McConalogue OR speaker:Duncan Smith OR speaker:Brendan Griffin) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Matt Carthy: To be clear, I am not dismissing the retention issue whatsoever. I am saying we have a big retention issue, on which the Tánaiste has failed to get a handle. I have also said I welcome the increase in the mandatory retirement age but have said that will not, in itself, deal with the retention issue we face. The truth is that as of today, more people have left the Defence Forces this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy said fewer people have been recruited this year than have left. That is not correct, in my understanding. So far, up to 30 September, 494 personnel had been inducted, and the latest advice from the military indicates it will have a further 250 by the end of the year.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Matt Carthy: Will that make the 400 target?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There have been 443 discharges, which is fewer than last year. This year could be a turning point in the recruitment story. We hope that in respect of the retention issue, successfully raising the retirement age to 62 will have a significant effect next year and in the following year. Moreover, there are other measures we want to introduce, relating to instructors and so forth, that will...

Estimates for Public Services 2024: Message from Select Committee (17 Oct 2024)

Estimates for Public Services 2024: Message from Select Committee (17 Oct 2024)

Catherine Connolly: The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for Public Services for the year ending on 31 December 2024: Vote 34.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Naval Service

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 6. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on plans to enhance the Naval Service headquarters in Haulbowline, County Cork; to provide an update on the infrastructure development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41488/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: Will the Tánaiste provide an update on plans to enhance the Naval Service headquarters at Haulbowline?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to outline the unprecedented levels of capital investment we are making at Haulbowline naval base in County Cork. Since the introduction of the infrastructure development plan, we have completed in excess of €12 million worth of projects at the naval base, including a refurbishment of the operations training building, an upgrade of accommodation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I thank the Tánaiste. Anybody who has visited Haulbowline in the past 12 months will have seen the massive works that have been undertaken there recently. I recall the base when I was a councillor in the Cobh municipal district, and much of it began with the People's Park, with which Deputy Stanton will be familiar. That was the beginning of many of the works that have happened over...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The new gym at the old tank building is progressing well and we are basically down to procurement timelines. Investment will not be an issue and the gym will happen. There are also, as I said, significant accommodation projects. The refurbishment of the block 9 office facility, for example, commenced in August of this year. Once refurbishment works have been completed on this proposed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Oct 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: As I said, all the developments are welcome, and I know they are appreciated by the personnel based in Haulbowline. On the residential side, I understand that the refurbishment of the current block the Tánaiste mentioned will include accommodation for 75 personnel and that there will be further development in another block to allow people to stay on site. There was a sad situation a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Gary Gannon: I appreciate that the Tánaiste cannot comment in detail on specific incidents but, looking at some incidents over the last four or five years, we seem to have a very cavalier approach to counter-intelligence and threats to the State. The Tánaiste obviously cannot comment on the recent example of Cobalt, although he did comment in the media. He said he was not briefed although a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is a national security committee which co-ordinates all of the work. I think there are issues in terms of an accountability chain to the Oireachtas and the Government of the day. That is why there is an examination under way. There needs to be work done on ensuring a proper accountability chain and a framework governing both military intelligence and intelligence activities more...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Gary Gannon: The Tánaiste might give us some timelines in respect of the evaluation that he spoke of. It is important that this is not used as a political football and that we approach it in a mature way. There are some examples that take us by surprise. Last month, my constituency colleague seemed to come under some sort of misinformation attack from outside the State. A report came in that the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have good quality intelligence networks in the country. An Garda Síochána does a very good job, as does military intelligence. The Commission on the Defence Forces outlined significant reforms in respect of military intelligence and the majority of its recommendations were accepted by Government. These include strengthening military intelligence capabilities; the establishment...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Gary Gannon: I have not accepted it. I am wondering why the State is not pursuing it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not saying the Deputy has but, generally, people did in the beginning. People actually did. I was questioned in the Dáil as if it was a fact.