Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The third and most recent report of the implementation monitoring group was published in September 2014. Among its recommendations was that a climate survey be conducted within 12 months and subsequently at reasonable intervals. A similar survey was conducted in 2008. The aim of the survey, which was conducted by the University of Limerick, UL, was to identify trends to inform best practice in human resources management and training and education within the Defence Forces. As with the 2008 survey, approximately 11% of the workforce, 1055 personnel, was sampled.

The key findings of the survey are grouped under topics such as work- life balance, peer support, organisational justice within the organisation, procedural justice, organisational fairness, Defence Forces integrity and supervisory Justice. The University of Limerick researchers who undertook the project point out that the findings of the report and the recommendations are interconnected and caution should apply to reading any one particular finding in isolation.

I have reviewed the report in detail. I have also received a briefing on the findings from the University of Limerick. The survey findings clearly point to challenges for the Defence Forces, particularly in the areas of leadership, communication, organisational culture, the working environment and active management of personnel expectations. However, many positives also emanated from the survey, especially in regard to the commitment of personnel to the values and mission of the organisation, high levels of work satisfaction, pride in the organisation and positive views on culture and work support.

The response to the issues raised in the report of the climate survey is being led by the Chief of Staff by way of an action plan which involves the engagement of all levels of management within the organisation. RACO and PDFORRA were recently briefed by the University of Limerick researchers on the findings and conclusions of the report. Following on from that briefing, I met recently with the representative associations to hear their views and concerns in regard to the report. It was agreed at that meeting that the representative associations would be fully engaged in the response to the report through the IMG framework, where they could put forward their views on appropriate responses. It was also agreed that there would be a further meeting with the University of Limerick and the IMG to consider the findings and to tease out the quantitative data in the report. The associations will also attend planned focus groups to be facilitated by the University of Limerick to further explore the issues raised in the climate survey report.

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