I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
Since 2013, my Department provides the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces with a quarterly progress report on outstanding systemic issues highlighted by the Ombudsman in his or her final reports.
The most recent of these was prepared in October 2017 for discussion with the Office of the Defence Forces Ombudsman and at that time the implementation of nine recommendations was ongoing. The previous Ombudsman's term of office expired on 6th November 2017 and a new Ombudsman took up office on the 6th July, 2018. Accordingly, no quarterly reports were prepared in the intervening period and this process will be reconvened with a progress report to be prepared for discussion in October.