Defence Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022

Thursday, 10 March 2022

Questions (15, 23, 24, 47)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

15. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary question No. 122 of 27 January 2022, the status of the independent review to examine the effectiveness of the policies, systems and procedures currently in place for dealing with bullying, harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual assault in the Defence Forces; the progress reports received to date by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13308/22]

Emer Higgins

Question:

23. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the work that has been carried out to address gender-based issues and concerns within the Defence Forces. [13478/22]

Matt Carthy

Question:

24. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the engagements he has had in the past month with regard to the proposed establishment of a commission or statutory inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment within the Defence Forces. [12557/22]

Matt Carthy

Question:

47. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence if he will establish a statutory inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12556/22]

Oral answers (2 contributions)

Deputy Catherine Connolly

May I have a minute and I will forsake any further contribution as I suspect we will not have time for it? I have the advantage of having read the written reply. My question is about the status of the independent review to examine the effectiveness of the policies and procedures for dealing with bullying etc. in the Defence Forces. The review was announced on 25 January, when the three-person membership was also set out. The terms of reference state that a work plan is to be produced within 30 days of the appointment of the group. Has that plan been produced? How many times has the group met? Has there been a monthly report? The Minister's reply states that he received an initial report confirming that work within the agreed terms of reference is under way. That is too vague given the seriousness of this and the fact that the Women of Honour are not participating.

We need to restore trust. A work plan was to be produced within a month. Has it been produced? Have there been any monthly reports to date or anything else specifically under the terms of reference?

Deputy Simon Coveney

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 23, 24 and 47 together.

My understanding is that the work plan has been completed. I am very careful to ensure that this report remains distant from the Minister so that it is seen genuinely as an independent report, which it needs to be. Even though this process and the people who are leading it have much support in terms of existing Defence Forces personnel and also some former Defence Forces personnel, it is regrettable that the Women of Honour group has not supported this approach. I hope it will interact with the judge and her team because this is a very genuine and serious effort to produce recommendations that can fundamentally change culture within the Defence Forces. I am available at any time to talk about that with any group, including the Women of Honour group if it wants to do so. This report is progressing, however. We have asked, as part of the terms of reference, that they would provide an interim report to me within six months and finalise their work within 12 months. I certainly hope that we will be on schedule for those commitments.