Defence Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Questions (308)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

308. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the correspondence his office has received from a person (details supplied) in the past five years; the action that has been taken on foot of the serious allegations contained in same; if he or his officials passed the files and correspondence on to An Garda Síochána for investigations or to the Defence Forces Ombudsman; and if so, if he enquired as to the stage at which the investigations into the allegations by An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces Ombudsman are at. [32580/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

A serving member of the Defence Forces may avail of a number of processes to pursue any complaint or allegation in relation to their treatment or experiences within the Defence Forces. Where the alleged victim and the alleged suspect are both serving members, a complaint may be made to the Military Police. Depending on the nature of the case, such complaints may be referred to an Garda Síochána. Cases involving a civilian, whether a former member of the Defence Forces or not, are matters appropriate for investigation by an Garda Síochána.

Subject to conditions set out in the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004, serving and former members of the Defence Forces may avail of the services of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces for pursuing complaints. There is no provision within the Act for the Minister to refer matters to the Ombudsman.

The Minister may refer information received by him to an Garda Síochána for investigation and if done so, the matter is then subject to their independent investigative process.

It is not appropriate for the Minister to comment on the circumstances of individual cases.

Question No. 309 answered with Question No. 306.