Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
70. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on his engagement with a group (details supplied) and their legal representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50706/23]
View answer73. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he will bring forward the Terms of Reference for the Statutory Inquiry arising out of the Report of the Independent Review Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50707/23]
View answer76. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views that the proposed tribunal to investigate allegations made by members of a group (details supplied) has a wide and broad enough remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50751/23]
View answer78. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of the Tribunal of Inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints process in the Defence Forces; the timeline for same; the status of the terms of reference of the tribunal; the details of his engagement in the past month with a group (details supplied) with regard to the concerns they have raised over the terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50890/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 73, 76 and 78 together.
The report of the Independent Review Group established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces was published on 28 March 2023. The Government agreed to progress the recommendations contained in the Report, which included the establishment of a Statutory Inquiry to identify systemic failures, if any, in the complaints system, in order to ensure accountability and transparency.
Draft Terms of Reference were prepared in consultation with the Attorney General and shared with a wide variety of interested parties, including the Women of Honour and their legal representatives.
In July, I obtained the approval of the Government to establish a Judge-led Tribunal of Inquiry, pursuant to the provisions of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 (as amended), to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces and to address workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. I have continued to engage with a range of stakeholders to this process.
I have met with the Women of Honour and their legal representatives on a number of occasions, the most recent being on 27 September last, and I wrote to their legal representatives on 2 November last. Many of the additional terms and edits sought by the Women of Honour and their legal team, including their request for a statutory public inquiry have been included in the draft Terms of Reference for the Tribunal of Inquiry.
I have explained at these meetings, and in my correspondence, that the Terms of Reference must be clearly defined to ensure that the Tribunal is capable of completing the task assigned to it within a reasonable timeframe. I have also outlined that certain terms sought for inclusion will in fact be examined in separate, non-statutory investigations, in line with the recommendations in the IRG report.
Revised Terms of Reference have been shared with individuals and groups who have been in contact with my Office. I hope to meet with the Women of Honour Group again this week before I revert to Government in the coming weeks to seek approval for the Terms of Reference and for the appointment of a Judge to Chair the Tribunal.
