Written Answers. - Anti-Bullying Measures.
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:
13
Ms Fitzgerald
asked the
Minister for Defence
the steps he is taking to end sexual harassment and bullying in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the thesis written by a person (details supplied) which details incidents of sexual harassment and assault suffered by female members of the Defence Forces.
[24599/01]
Monica Barnes
Question:
43
Mrs. Barnes
asked the
Minister for Defence
the steps he is taking to end sexual harassment and bullying in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the thesis written by a person (details supplied) which details incidents of sexual harassment and assault suffered by female members of the Defence Forces.
[21109/01]
Brendan Howlin
Question:
57
Mr. Howlin
asked the
Minister for Defence
the steps which have been taken to investigate allegations of sexual harassment within the Defence Forces; the membership and terms of reference of the steering groups established to look into this problem; when the group is expected to report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24446/01]
Alan Shatter
Question:
89
Mr. Shatter
asked the
Minister for Defence
the steps he is taking to end sexual harassment and bullying in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the thesis written by a person (details supplied) which details incidents of sexual harassment and assault suffered by female members of the Defence Forces.
[24701/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 43, 57 and 89 together.
The Defence Forces have had formal policies and procedures on sexual harassment and bullying in place since February 1996. These procedures are outlined in an administrative instruction on interpersonal relationships available to all members of the Defence Forces.
Lectures and briefings in this area have continued over the years as an integral element of the training syllabus on recruit, cadet and career courses, and in addition on those occasions when troops are formed up for overseas training.
Early this year, the Defence Forces commenced a re-examination of their procedures to bring them into line with the best state-of-the-art practice in both the wider public service and in the private sector. In April, the section in the administrative instruction which deals with the procedures concerning allegations of bullying was revised to reflect this. The Report of the Government Task Force on the Prevention of Workplace Bullying, published in March of this year, requires all public and private organisations to reassess their policies. The Defence Forces will actively participate in this review and re-assessment exercise.
While reports in the media, relating to the content of an academic thesis, suggested that there was widespread sexual harassment, it should be emphasised that all incidents of sexual harassment brought to the attention of the military authorities are always thoroughly and properly investigated.
Additional procedures are being put in place by the chief of staff to address this issue. Each barracks will have a female liaison officer, known and available to all females in barracks, for the processing of any matters which female personnel may not wish to bring forward through the normal chain of command.
In addition, each formation commander will arrange Women's Days on a periodic basis to cover issues such as interpersonal relationships, women's health issues and other matters pertaining specifically to females.
An internal information campaign of posters, and a simplified booklet, to convey in user friendly terms the essential message of the administrative instruction on interpersonal relationships are being initiated. Briefings and open discussions with mixed gender attendance are to be conducted by formation commanders on the content of the administrative instruction on interpersonal relationships until all personnel have attended. These briefings are to continue on a periodic basis. I am satisfied the military authorities are quite properly emphasising again the serious nature of this subject for all personnel, throughout the Defence Forces. The chief of staff has instructed that briefings and open discussions on the administrative instruction on interpersonal relationships be conducted with all recruits in training. The chief of staff has emphasised that these briefings and discussions should not be seen as a box ticking exercise but given sufficient time and openness. The importance of establishing the proper environment for recruits and inculcating the values of respect, decency, and fair play cannot be over emphasised. The chief of staff has stated that commanders at all levels should bear in mind that it is a command responsibility to ensure that the military environment is free from any form of sexual harassment and bullying. He has further stated that any failure by a commander to ensure that such is the case, or to deal adequately with complaints of sexual harassment or bullying, would be considered a dereliction of duty.
The chief of staff has established a special military steering group to examine these issues. I invited Dr. Eileen Doyle, who chaired the Government's Task Force on the Prevention of Workplace Bullying, to join the group as an expert civilian chairperson. Her task is to deter mine the nature and extent of sexual harassment, harassment and bullying in the Defence Forces, to review existing policies and procedures, and to make recommendations on strategies and programmes relating to awareness and education in this whole area. She has been joined by two other civilian experts, who previously worked with her on the original Government task force, and by senior military personnel, including the Deputy Chief of Staff – support – and a senior female Defence Force officer. Dr. Doyle and the joint civilian-military group will now proceed to carry out a study of the subject throughout the Defence Forces and produce a report by March 2002. A full time researcher, who holds a doctorate in occupational psychology, is working with Dr. Doyle.
The commitment to military service makes unusual, irregular and at times, stressful and life threatening demands on members of the Defence Forces. Military personnel are subject to a code of discipline that involves restrictions on their personal liberty and rights. Military training must be tough and uncompromising to prepare personnel to face the most difficult of situations. The Defence Forces fully recognise, however, that the singular nature of the military environment does not give anyone a general licence for bullying or harassment of any kind. Such behaviour will not be tolerated.
