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

-----and asking whether I would accept the recommendations. When the report was published, I was again asked if I would accept them and I said that I would. I have done so, including this particular one.

What I am trying to get across is that the fundamental purpose of the external oversight body is to try to deal with the issues that were raised by the independent review group. It is arguable that it is dealing with them. This relates to the complaint system, command-and-control mechanisms and how the organisation deals with issues. To be fair, there is much work going on within the Defence Forces to try to deal with these issues, introduce changes and make progress. That is happening, and the Chief of Staff is leading the process commendably. The external oversight body has already met 25 times. I met with the chair, Brian MacCraith. He and the body have full authority to come back to me with whatever they wish to propose or with what they identify as needing to be changed. The Secretary General has been at all of those meetings. The body is functioning effectively. I do not see the Secretary General being a member as a major undermining of the role of the oversight body at all, and there is no sense that this is the case. Look at the membership of the body. They are all very capable people who have been at very senior positions in either the public or private sector for quite a long time. They are not the kind of people who will be unduly influenced – or influenced at all – by any one particular civil servant or Secretary General.

I say that given their experience and the brief they have in terms of effecting change or making recommendations that will create change for the better in respect of the Defence Forces being a place and a workplace of dignity, respect and safety. That is the objective.

Deputy Howlin asked me if I would reflect. I always reflect. I will take on board what members have said. We can return to this on Report Stage. I have heard what Deputy Stanton has said. I think he was suggesting some hybrid sort of solution. I will have a look at it and come back.