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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 3

Written Answers. - Redress of Wrongs.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

192 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to introduce paragraph 11.5.22 of the Gleeson recommendations of 19 July 1991, to deal with the redress of wrongs.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

193 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence if he considers it to be totally demoralising and insulting to members of the Defence Forces that an application made for redress of wrongs submitted took over 12 months for a reply to issue from his office and was then rejected with a cryptic statement without any explanation; and if he considers that this length of time is a clear breach of DFR7 paragraph 2A (5).

I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.

Defence Force Regulations A.7 makes the following provisions in regard to the examination of complaints by members of the Defence Forces:—

Complaints by officers and men — transmission of.

11A. (1) A commanding officer who receives a complaint from an officer addressed to the Minister shall acknowledge its receipt in writing and shall forward it, through the normal military channels, to the Adjutant-General who shall transmit it to the Minister.

(2) A commanding officer who receives a complaint from a man addressed to the Adjutant-General shall forward it, through the normal military channels, to the Adjutant-General.
(3) When forwarding a complaint from an officer or man in accordance with subparagraph (1) or (2) hereof, a commanding officer shall attach to such complaint a report on any investigations carried out by him in regard to the matter complained of and shall indicate in such report the reasons he did not deal with the complaint to the satisfaction of the complainant. He shall attach to such report any documents relevant to the complaint.
(4) Each authority above a commanding officer through whom a complaint is forwarded in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph shall, if satisfied as to the justice of the complaint, take, without delay, such steps as lie within his power and as may be necessary for giving full redress to the complainant in the matter complained of. Where such authority is forwarding a complaint to the next highest authority, he shall attach thereto a statement of his views on the matter and of the steps, if any, taken by him towards having redress given to the complainant.
(5) Every complaint made pursuant to section 114 of the Act shall be dealt with at every stage with the utmost despatch.
Notification of outcome of complaints.
11B. (1) In every case where a complaint is made to a company commander, a commanding officer or the Adjutant-General, the complainant shall be informed of the action taken by such company commander, commanding officer or the Adjutant-General in regard to the matter complained of. If the complainant so requests, such information shall be conveyed to him in writing.
(2) In every case where a complaint has been made to the Minister, the complainant shall be informed of the Minister's decision in regard to the matter complained of. If the complainant so requests, such information shall be conveyed to him in writing by his commanding officer.
(3) The decision of the Minister on any complaint shall be final.
The procedures described provide for a thorough investigation of complaints through a number of levels and the time taken to complete the process is dependent on the complexity of the matters raised and the option of the complainant to invoke the various steps involved. Personnel who process applications for redress of wrongs appreciate the need for expedition consistent with the fullest investigation of complaints.
As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 4 December 1991 I am at present reviewing the procedures dealing with redress of wrongs. Any proposed changes will be discussed with the representative associations.
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