Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 14 together.

The Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, Ms Paulynn Marrinan Quinn SC, launched her first annual report on 15 May last. The report covers the period from December 2005 to December 2006, inclusive.

The creation of the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces which became operational on 1 December 2005 represented a major historical milestone in the modernisation of the military redress of wrongs process. The publication of the first annual report is a further milestone in this development.

The Act provides that the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is independent in the performance of her duties and I do not consider it appropriate for me to report on her behalf or to give details in respect of her reports on individual cases. However, I welcome the first report and the work done by Ms Marrinan Quinn in establishing this important new office. The ombudsman has achieved her objective of creating a reputation for impartiality, professionalism and fairness for her office despite the brevity of her time there. I also welcome strongly the response of the Defence Forces to this new office. In this regard, the ombudsman commented that she had found the Defence Forces were open and receptive to the establishment of the office and were willing to recognise the benefits of having an ombudsman.

I welcome the fact that the ombudsman has begun to have a positive impact on military human resources management. In response to recommendations made by the ombudsman, new interim selection procedures for the selection of enlisted personnel for career courses and overseas service were introduced in July 2006. These procedures were introduced in interim form to allow for their evaluation in an operational environment. The Defence Forces are reviewing these procedures with a view to producing a final version in the near future. Furthermore, the procedures for the promotion of non-commissioned officers within the Defence Forces are under review as part of the modernisation agenda. Formal discussions on the proposed system commenced in April 2006 within the conciliation and arbitration forum. The ombudsman has made recommendations on foot of some cases she has investigated which are included as inputs to this review.

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