Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My final questions are for Mr. Byrne and Commandant Lawlor. In 2001 research carried out by Dr. Tom Cloonan, who was then a serving member of the Defence Forces, found an alarming level of sexual harassment of female soldiers, right up to reports of allegations of attempted rape. At that time there was clearly a serious problem. He has written a book, Whistleblower, Soldier, Spy, which outlines his experiences, having revealed this through his own research. He was treated appallingly, according to his account, by his former colleagues. There was a culture of resisting the change that was necessary in creating an environment that was safe for the women there.

Since then I understand there have been very significant changes in the environment in terms of the equality structures that are in place around that. It is not unique to our Defence Forces. As we know, unfortunately, in the military across the world it is a real problem. In the United States 15% of women veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were victims of sexual violence, which indicated a massive problem in military organisations in terms of sexual harassment and violence against women. It is also against men, but predominantly against women.

I want to get a sense from the representatives of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces of what has changed since the revelations from Dr. Cloonan? What message can we send out to women that they are absolutely safe within our Defence Forces and that when they report complaints they will be vigorously investigated?

There has been criticism in Britain that the allegations of sexual harassment or violence are being investigated within the internal investigatory structures within the British military. Is that the case in Ireland and if so are there any plans to change it?