Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
682. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Defence if he will publish the terms of reference for an independent review into allegations of bullying, sexual abuse and harassment in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63210/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to establishing an Independent Review to examine the effectiveness of systems, policies and procedures dealing with workplace issues relating to bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the Defence Forces.
Extensive consultations on the development of Terms of Reference for the Review have taken place with a range of stakeholders, including serving members of the Defence Forces, the Women of Honour Group, and the Defence Forces Representative Associations. I am having further meetings with stakeholders this week with a view to progressing this important Review.
I hope to finalise the Terms of Reference very shortly and intend to publish them once finalised.
The draft Terms of Reference for the Review are based to a large extent on those developed by the respective Departments of Defence in Canada, UK and the US, where similar serious workplace issues were identified to those we face in the Irish Defence Forces.
I have also liaised with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre to satisfy myself that our course of action is appropriate and thorough. In addition, the advice of the Office of the Attorney General has guided us on the preparation of the Terms of Reference.
The Independent Review Group will be totally independent in undertaking its function and will be given any access it requires, to records or personnel, in both the Defence Forces and the Department, in order to undertake its role. It's Terms of Reference will be sufficiently broad to allow the Independent Review Group members latitude to explore the areas that they need to explore and to bring forward recommendations for future actions. The Terms will explicitly provide an opportunity for the Independent Review Group, to consider in their final report, whether further reports are needed.
As Minister for Defence, I wish to reitertate that I, the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General are committed as an absolute priority, to ensure that each member of the Defence Forces, male and female, is able to carry out their duties in a safe workplace, underpinned by dignity and equality.
