Tom Clonan (Independent)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach and I also thank the Minister very much for his statement and for everything that has followed. My apologies that I had to attend the Committee on Disability Matters. I have an interest in safeguarding, particularly when it comes to sexual violence, sexual assault and rape. In 2000, I completed a PhD, a doctorate, while serving as an Army officer. I set out very clearly and explicitly the levels of sexual violence in our armed forces, the causes and the patterns of that abuse, and I set out in great detail some of the solutions.

That was the beginning of a journey of reprisal against me and my family, pushback and denial. The reason I am mentioning this is because, despite a Government inquiry and report which investigated my research and fully vindicated its findings and which found that not only were female personnel subjected to sexual violence in this way but male personnel were also targeted for rape, in 2021, 21 years later, the Women of Honour come forward, make fresh disclosures and the independent review group reports this year, 2023, and finds that the culture has not changed. On safeguarding, I gave a very clear warning 23 years ago and no meaningful action was taken. As a consequence, in the interim, over the past two decades, hundreds of young men and women - sailors, soldiers and aircrew - have been subjected to life-limiting and life-altering experiences which were foreseeable, avoidable and preventable. Have those who were bystanders or the people who participated in the reprisal against me ever been held to account? No, they have been promoted.

There is a dynamic in Ireland. I have had 23 years to reflect on this, the dynamics of the bystander effect in action leading to an exacerbation of the system and of that situation. It is in that context and informed by that life experience, research, subsequent research and collaborations with people like Professor Kate Kenny in the University of Galway, and I am delighted to see the Minister met the authors - I wrote to the Chair and asked that they come in to talk to us about that - and it is within the theme of safeguarding that I would like to know what changes St. John Ambulance has made in the wake of the Shannon report.

What actions has it taken to ensure this does not continue or happen again? Is the board still in place today and, if so, why? I have a direct "Yes" or "No" question for the Minister. Is he confident children within the St. John Ambulance organisation are safe?