Clare Daly
Question:47. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence the number of complaints processed by the Defence Forces Ombudsman; and if he is satisfied with the operation of the system. [28964/13]
View answerTuesday, 18 June 2013
Questions (47)
Written answers
Statistics, including the number of complaints processed and investigated by the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (ODF) each year, are published in the Ombudsman’s annual reports. Copies of these reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and are also publicly available on the Ombudsman’s website www.odf.ie. The latest annual report published by the ODF is in respect of 2011. The 2012 report is awaiting publication. I am advised by the office of the ODF that from 1 December 2005, the date when the operational functions of the ODF commenced, to 31 December 2011, some 752 directly referred complaints and notifications on complaints made under section 114 of the Defence Act 1954, as amended, have been processed by the office of the ODF. Of this number some 241 complaints proceeded to a full formal investigation.
I am satisfied that the system is working well. Since the establishment of the office of the ODF a number of administrative and systemic issues have been identified and addressed which has contributed to improvements in procedures and policies within the Defence Forces and this work is ongoing. I welcome the fact that more redress cases are now being resolved at an early stage by the military authorities without the need for referral to the ODF. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of cases being referred to the ODF in recent years which is a positive development.
Question No. 48 answered with Question No. 30.