Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The Doyle report was presented in 2002 and a review carried out in 2004. The Deputy is correct to state the next review was scheduled for 2007. However, the Department has encountered a couple of internal staff difficulties that have delayed matters. It is untrue to state it is simply waiting for the appointment of an external person. It is engaged in drawing up the terms of reference. I understand it has drawn up certain terms of reference and is examining them in the light of certain developments in society, some experiences that came to its intention on foot of the appointment of the newly established ombudsman, as well as the Health and Safety Authority's recently produced bullying charter. It is fine-tuning the terms of reference. I understand this will be completed within the next couple of weeks and we can move forward thereafter. It probably would be unrealistic to expect the review to be completed by the end of the year; it will probably be done by early next year. However, this does not represent any diminution in the commitment of either the Department or the Army to tackling bullying and harassment in the ranks of the latter. If the Deputy wishes, I can provide him with a lengthy list outlining what has been done and is being done and what is proposed to do in this regard. Some dramatic changes have been made recently.

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