Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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The witnesses are very welcome to the committee. I will keep my questions brief.

In Ms McCrum's opening statement, she mentioned the specific actions to support cultural change and the external oversight body. Are the people who are on that body public knowledge? Can she tell me who is it? Is she on it?

She also speaks about the new complaints process for civilians, civil servants and serving members of the Defence Forces. I know that whistleblowers do not have an easy ride. They do not have an easy time. Many people say that one would be mad to even consider whistleblowing. I have information on the Women of Honour and that would really make the hair on your head stand up. I know Ms McCrum also has access to that information involving whistleblowers and their experiences which are, I have to say, abject. Sometimes I dread turning the page or scrolling down the screen.

The word “culture” features constantly in reports about the Defence Forces. Just mentioning the word “culture” does not really address it. I want to ask Ms McCrum about her commitment to cultural change. What is now in place to protect current and future whistleblowers, particularly in the grave context of the experiences of others? We spoke earlier about national security. For me, I think the culture in the Defence Forces has to be tackled. Ms McCrum is going to have to be courageous about this and really get it. For me, members of all four parts of the Defence Forces have to know that their colleagues and their comrades have their backs and that it is an “All for one and one for all” kind of thing. Of course, structure and discipline are needed and that has to be part of the Defence Forces but that structure and discipline can never be abused. People who are going into the Defence Forces have to know that. I think it is a matter of national security if we do not have that in our Defence Forces.

The report also mentions work-life balance. There is a huge gap here as well between the aspiration and the application. It is reported that some military chefs and members of the officers’ mess are being asked to work for 15 non-military occasions, such as meetings and functions, and they will have to work on weekends. How will that affect their work-life balance? In one officers’ mess, 15 private functions will be held between now and Christmas, which will require staff to give up their weekends. That is dysfunctional in the extreme, and it has no place in a modern defence force in a republic. I seek Ms McCrum’s views and plans on that, as well as those of the Chief of Staff.

Ms McCrum also mentioned specific capability enhancements. I would like for her to give us some examples. We do have an example in Kildare, in the case of the fire service at the Curragh, where there are multi-capable individuals who also provide military facilities and fire safety facilities overseas, as well as the monitoring of munitions depots in the Curragh. Personnel were told that office would be closing down. If Ms McCrum thinks she is going to hold onto these personnel in the Defence Forces if the fire services close down, she is very much mistaken. They also provide, as I have already said, fire cover overseas and there is the experience that brings. I have spoken to members of their families and they are so proud of their partners and the work they do in the Defence Forces. They do not want them to be forced to leave.

I have written to the Minister on this but I have not yet received a reply. I would appreciate a response.

I believe the Chief-of-Staff has been referred to as the "chief" by everybody else, so I will call him that too. This report is very interesting. I know it was done to address the gender perspective. Mr. Clancy said he would like to reach out to new applicants within 48 hours. A few members of my family and some friends have served. While this occurred maybe 15, 30 or 40 years ago, they told me that when they went down to a barracks to enlist, they got what was called a “Cinderella pass” so they could go home and tell their mammies they had joined the Army. That was it - you were admitted in a day, although I am sure that was not particularly good practice. How long does it take from the psychometric, fitness and medical tests to induction? How does the figure of 4,694 applicants compare with other years, going back ten years? What is the average in a year?

Some 40% are not showing up for the fitness test, yet the number failing the fitness test is quite small, at just 6%. Are the Defence Forces engaging with the no-shows? I know it can be very disheartening when people do not show up. Are the Defence Forces engaging with people on why they are not showing up? If only 6% of applicants are failing, it is perhaps the case that many of the no-shows thought they might have failed and that the test was too difficult? I have asked lot of questions and I apologise for taking longer than I thought I would.