Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 May 2022
50. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Defence the steps that he is taking to improve reporting mechanisms for personnel in the Defence Forces who are experiencing sexual abuse, harassment and bullying. [23496/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key priority for me as Minister for Defence is my duty of care obligation to all members of the Defence Forces. I am fully committed to ensuring that every member has the right to be treated with dignity, equality and respect to carry out their duties in a safe workplace underpinned by a culture of zero-tolerance for any kind of bullying, discrimination, harassment or sexual abuse.
The Independent Review Group established last January is examining the systems, policies and procedures for dealing with workplace issues relating to bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, as well as workplace culture, in the Defence Forces.
This Judge-led review is a necessary and critical first step to address the need for a safe work environment for serving members with zero-tolerance for such unacceptable behaviour.
The Terms of Reference for the Review are wide-ranging and provide that Government may consider further work on receipt of the Independent Review findings.
There are 3 key aims of the Independent Review:
- Firstly, to advise on whether the current legislative frameworks, policies, procedures and practices for addressing incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the workplace are effective;
- Secondly, to independently assess whether the pervading culture in the workplace is fully aligned with the principles of dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces and;
- Thirdly, to provide recommendations and guidance on measures and strategies required to underpin a workplace based on dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces.
A number of reforms have been implemented over the last twenty years since the 2002 publication of the External Advisory Group on the Defence Forces and the three subsequent reports from the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG), for addressing allegations of inappropriate behaviour, including harassment, sexual harassment and bullying, which are contained in policy documents and in regulation.
The Defence Forces Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Statement and Action Plan aims to ensure that a transparent culture exists, that encourages personnel to report inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.
Despite the reforms that have taken place, current and former members of the Defence Forces have been clear that the culture that is pervading, and the application of those policies, systems and procedures for dealing with unacceptable behaviour have not, and are not serving all Defence Forces personnel well and that while there has been progress in recent years, more needs to be done.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have set out an ambitious timetable for the Group. An interim report is due within the next 3 months with a final report within 12 months of the establishment of the Group. I will be bringing this final Report to Government and thereafter it will be published.
As I mentioned earlier, I had a very fruitful meeting with Ms. Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon and the other members of the Group, Ms. Jane Williams and Mr. Mark Connaughton, on 25 April last where they updated me on progress. I very much look forward to their interim report in the coming months.
Finally, the Deputy will recall that on foot of my engagement with both serving and former Defence Forces personnel last year, I immediately put in place a number of interim supports including the appointment of the Confidential Contact Person with Raiseaconcern, to support serving and former members in the safe reporting of allegations of wrongdoing in the workplace.
Raiseaconcern have recently provided me with a report on the work of the Confidential Contact Person. The Report is completely anonymised and as agreed I have submitted a copy to the members of the Independent Review Group and it is expected that it will be a valuable input into their ongoing deliberations.
