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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 5

Written Answers. - Military Ombudsman.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

57 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Defence when he expects to publish the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18307/01]

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

60 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of his statement to Dáil Éireann on 27 March 2001 that discussions are taking place between his Department and the representative associations with a view to defining the scope and powers of a military ombudsman, he will indicate the number of meetings his officials have had regarding this subject with each of the representative associations since 1 January 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17639/01]

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

90 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of his statement to Dáil Éireann on 27 March 2001 that discussions are taking place between his Department and the representative associations with a view to defining the scope and powers of a military ombudsman, he will indicate the number of meetings his officials have had regarding this subject with each of the representative associations since 1 January 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17659/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 60 and 90 together.

On 11 October last, I announced that I had decided that the time was right to proceed with the establishment of a legislative ombudsman for the Defence Forces. I added that, in establishing this office, it was important to ensure that a credible grievance system would be provided, one which would be fair to all members of the forces, while at the same time safeguarding the operational flexibility of the forces as a whole. At that time officials of my Department met with both of the Defence Forces representative associations, PDFORRA and RACO, to advise them of the position. It was indicated to them that the Department would, following a period of detailed consideration of the issues involved, bring forward proposals to give effect to my decision.
Last year, PDFORRA, acting on its own initiative, submitted proposals to my Department which set out its views and concerns regarding the establishment and operation of a Defence Forces ombudsman. Following on from this, a number of informal meetings have taken place this year between officials of my Department and PDFORRA in order to clarify aspects of the association's proposals. PDFORRA's proposals and its concerns have received full consideration by my Department in formulating final proposals with relation to the establishment of the Ombudsman. The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers – RACO – has not made an equivalent formal submission. However, the Association has been brought up to date with the progress that has been made so far regarding the establishment of an ombudsman.
I expect to be in a position to make a formal proposal to the representative associations in the near future. Following this, I will make the necessary legislative arrangements in order to give effect to the ombudsman proposal.
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