Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1019. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if the panel announced by him on 25 January 2022, in relation to the independent review into dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces has access to other professionals to provide support or specialist advice to the panel; if so, the terms for the positions of those persons; and their authority to put questions to those engaging in the review. [40885/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the work of the Independent Review Group is entirely independent in keeping with the Terms of Reference. I must therefore allow the Group full independence and autonomy to undertake its body of work, under its Chair, Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon.
The Terms of Reference provide that it is open to the Review Group to conduct its business through oral and/or written engagement on a group basis and/or individual basis. The Review will include the receipt of the views and experiences from both current and former Defence Forces personnel of workplace incidents of unacceptable behaviour. The sharing of such views and experiences by interviewees will be entirely voluntary and treated in confidence.
To-date, I have received four monthly reports from the Chair of the Review Group outlining the progress of the Review. I look forward to further monthly reports, in line with the Terms of Reference, including any interim assessments or recommendations on addressing any issues arising which may require immediate action. In addition, it is expected that the six-month interim assessment will be submitted to me in the coming weeks.
In line with the Terms of Reference, the monthly reports and interim assessment will not be published. The final report which is to be presented to me at the end of the year, will be brought to Government, and will thereafter be published.
