Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Without wanting to be flippant about the matter, it is analogous to crime in Limerick. When a crime of a particular nature takes place in Limerick, everyone is keen to talk about it. The same crime would not attract the same attention in Cork, Waterford, Galway, Blessington or elsewhere. It is basically a sexy story. If someone says "Oh my goodness, I was in the Irish Army, was bullied relentlessly, was made undergo all sorts of embarrassing procedures and had to do this, that and the other", that is a big, sexy story. The tabloids go crazy for stuff like that.

I am aware of the allegations to which Deputy Sherlock refers. However, without prejudicing the outcome of legal proceedings and in the interest of the recruit herself, the case was investigated under instruction A7, which is the new instruction setting out the complaints procedures, remedies, etc. All the relevant procedures were followed and it was found there was no case to answer. The recruit does not accept that, which is her right. She has engaged a solicitor who is taking the matter to court and we will see where it goes from there.

However, a confidential telephone line was provided and almost 200 people were recruited to hold "clinics" with members of the Defence Forces, 8,500 of whom are ordinary members. This presented a clear opportunity to those who had a complaint and it was communicated to everybody. A regulation is in place where a person who tries to interfere with a complainant is immediately subject to disciplinary procedures, which is a powerful disincentive. However, since 2003 only eight people have come forward and made allegations, despite all the reports in newspapers. The newspaper reports are one thing, but the reality on the ground can often be quite different. Only one complaint was upheld and five were found to be groundless. Apart from the female recruit to whom I referred, the others have accepted the result and they have not pursued court cases.

I wonder about the accuracy of the continuing reports of widespread bullying. Although I do not doubt people had this perception in 2002 I do not know whether it was the reality. However, given what has happened since, the lack of complaints indicates the problem is not as widespread as we have been led to believe by certain sections of the media.

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