Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023
17. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the Women of Honour Group have expressed concerns to him about the membership of the External Oversight Body for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22847/23]
View answer49. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will agree with the Women of Honour Group in allowing his appointees to the External Oversight Board for the Defence Forces to be vetted for appropriateness by the Oireachtas Defence Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22719/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 49 together.
As I have outlined in my response to an earlier question, the Government has agreed to progress the Independent Review Group’s thirteen recommendations, including the setting up an External Oversight Body, on a non-statutory basis initially, to increase transparency and accountability; and to drive necessary culture change throughout the Defence Forces. I will also be bringing forward legislation shortly, to put the Body on a statutory footing.
I moved quickly on the establishment of the External Oversight Body because I wanted to create momentum around the implementation of the IRG's recommendations and , in particular, to drive the necessary culture change required.
I have stated already that I do not believe that some of the commentary in respect of the Oversight Body has been fair or reasonable. Its establishment and its membership was approved by Government, and is fully in line with the recommendation in the IRG Report on external oversight of the Defence Forces.
The Review Group was very explicit, in the report, on the membership of the oversight body and it is on the basis of this guidance, that the Government made the appointments to the External Oversight Body on 5 April, including the Secretary General of the Department of Defence.
I wish to thank the members of the Body, under the chair of Professor Brian MacCraith, for agreeing to undertake this important work. We are fortunate to have members of that calibre and experience to undertake the role.
I am also pleased to announce that with the agreement of Government this morning, I have today appointed Ms. Sam des Forges to the Body.
Ms des Forges, is the Director of Conduct, Equity and Justice in the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom and has very relevant experience in the areas of diversity and inclusion, transformation of Defence Forces complaints system, implementation of reforms relating to culture and unacceptable behaviours with the Defence Forces.
Ms des Forges unique personal experience, expertise and insight will be of huge value to the Body.
The need for the Secretary General to be on the Body was recommended by the IRG for good reason, and reflects the important link between the External Oversight Body and the administration of Government.
The first task of the Body is to develop detailed Terms of Reference for my approval in line with the recommendations of the Report.
There appears to be some conflation of matters in public commentary regarding the role of the External Oversight Body and the Statutory Inquiry which the Government has committed to establishing to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in dealing with individual complaints, including sexual misconduct.
The work (and scope) of the External Oversight Body, is future focused and will enable the transformation of the current workplace and for the avoidance of any doubt, the newly established External Oversight Body, will not have any role with regard to the Statutory Inquiry.
As set out previously in the Dáil, I intend to bring forward Terms of Reference for this Inquiry as soon as possible. I have also confirmed that the Department of Defence must and will be included in the Terms of Reference for the Statutory Inquiry.
As already stated, my end goal is a safe workplace where self-worth and dignity is actively promoted and mutual respect becomes a dominant feature in an organisation which is open to change. The External Oversight Body will have a critical role to play as we commence the process of transformation.
