Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wonder if mechanisms already exist. Within every organisation, there should be robust systems. If a whistle blows or someone has an issue or a serious complaint, that person should be dealt with properly within the organisation and there should be an appeals mechanism to deal with that quickly and expeditiously. This does not seem to be happening in the State, however, and we end up with a lot of cases that are brought to the floor of Dáil Éireann. There was a particular case raised today by a Deputy with regard to the Irish Prison Service. I was not familiar with the individual case but the very fact it is being raised in Dáil Éireann is telling me something about the systems we have in place in organisations.

The Women of Honour and other groups I have met have been clear: they all agree on the need for change. Some believe in what the Government has been doing, namely, facilitating an independent review, without ruling out a statutory inquiry. Others want a statutory inquiry. All are clear that the minute they reported sexual assault against them, that was the end of their careers. That is what they said to us. That is the terrible reality of what happened to women in the Defence Forces over the years. It indicates that something is not working. A statutory commission of inquiry will not provide early closure or resolution in respect of the issues.