I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 237 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, following the publication of the report of the Independent Review Group on dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces, the Government has agreed to progress all recommendations.
These include the:
• Establishment of a statutory inquiry to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in dealing with complaints, including sexual misconduct.
• Setting up an External Oversight Body to increase transparency and accountability; and to drive necessary culture change throughout the Defence Forces.
• Urgently reforming the existing mechanisms for making a complaint to restore faith and trust in the complaints process.
Preparing legislation to:-
• establish an independent complaints mechanism for serving members of the Defence Forces;
• establish the External Oversight Body on a statutory basis; and
• amend the Defence Act, 1954 to ensure that all allegations of rape, or aggravated sexual assault in the Defence Forces in the State be referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation. (In the interim, all such cases will be referred to An Garda Síochána.)
• A significant programme of reform and culture change delivered by external experts, with measures to eradicate reprisals and retaliation, and develop new policies on gender, inclusion and diversity.
The Government has moved immediately, to establish the External Oversight Body, on a non-statutory basis initially, as a critical part to drive the necessary culture change throughout the Defence Forces and to increase transparency and accountability. This is an essential part of the transformation of the current workplace to support serving members, going forward.
The Government has also agreed to the establishment of a Statutory Inquiry to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in the complaints system in the Defence Forces on interpersonal issues, including sexual misconduct.
I am currently consulting with the Attorney General in respect of its establishment and will be reverting to Government on this.
As I have previously stated, I believe that this report is a watershed moment. While it correctly acknowledges the high regard in which the Defence Forces is held, and its decades of peacekeeping roles, it nonetheless, signals the critical need for fundamental and immediate cultural change which goes to the very heart of issues relating to dignity, mutual respect and duty of care. Bullying, misogynistic behaviour, and any form of sexual misconduct is simply unacceptable, and has no place in a 21st century workplace.
I will to assure the Deputy that the process of fundamental change starts now and I will be progressing a comprehensive programme of actions to address the serious shortcomings identified in this report.
I am absolutely determined that this report must be, and will be, the catalyst for transformation of Ireland’s Defence Forces.
