Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
90. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has engaged with calls by the Women of Honour group for a public inquiry into the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29554/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra99. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is willing to apply the terms of reference provided by the Women of Honour group to the planned statutory inquiry into abuse and bullying in the Defence Forces. [29531/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 16 May 2023, the status of the promised statutory inquiry to identify systemic failures in the Defence Forces complaints system, including in relation to sexual misconduct; the timeline for the statutory inquiry; the terms of reference of the statutory inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29519/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 99 and 112 together.
The Government has agreed to progress, as a priority, the recommendations in the Report of the Independent Review Group. The establishment of a statutory inquiry to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in dealing with individual complaints in relation to interpersonal issues, including but not limited to sexual misconduct is just one of the recommendations that is being implemented.
Following the Government approval to establish a Statutory Inquiry, there has been ongoing consultation with the Attorney General in respect of its establishment and his office has assisted in the preparation of the draft terms of reference.
I had meetings with a number of key stakeholders, in early May, where draft terms of reference for the Statutory Inquiry were shared. I requested that the groups provide feedback in writing to me, so that their observations could be considered in preparing the terms of reference. The draft terms of reference were also shared with a number of interested parties who contacted my office.
The Taoiseach and I met with the Women of Honour Group on Monday last, 12th June, to discuss the Government’s commitment to move ahead with progressing the recommendations of the IRG Report.
I met the Women of Honour Group and their legal representatives again, last Wednesday, in a further round of engagements with a number of other stakeholders, including the Defence Forces Representative Associations, the Defence Forces Veterans Associations and the Men and Women of Honour Group.
The views of all stakeholders are very important and we have listened very carefully to their concerns. I have heard differing views from differing groups. I will be reflecting on the feedback received from the various stakeholders, which will be considered in the preparation of the terms of reference for the Inquiry.
While consideration is being given to the format of a Statutory Inquiry, this has not delayed the immediate implementation of some of the recommendations in the IRG report. For instance, all allegations of sexual assault by serving members occurring in the State, are now being referred directly to an Garda Síochána for investigation and prosecution. Legislative proposals will shortly be brought forward to formalise this.
The External Oversight Body as recommended in the IRG Report has been established, initially on a non-statutory basis. Legislation will be brought forward to put this Body on a statutory footing.
With the assistance of an external legal firm, extensive work is already underway to ensure that the Defence Forces are compatible with the provisions of the relevant equality legislation.
The implementation of the recommendations in the IRG Report together with the implementation of the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, particularly around the area of culture, will see a fundamental transformation in attitudes and policies in the Defence Forces, which should be the acceptable norm in any modern day employment.
