Dáil debates

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions

Defence Forces Personnel

4:30 pm

Photo of Lisa ChambersLisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Do I take it that there is a possibility that the report will not be published? If so, that is highly inappropriate and totally unacceptable to the House. When does the Minister of State expect to have this legal advice? When does he expect to decide what to do next? When will we know what is happening? The Minister of State says that he will fully implement the recommendations. Will we even have sight of them? How will we know they are being implemented?

There were reports recently that one of the whistleblowers is facing dismissal from the Defence Forces next month due to an industrial dispute. It is reported that the man, who made protected disclosures about health and safety management of hazardous chemicals at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, has been summonsed to appear before a Defence Forces medical board in August. A brief report issued prior to the board meeting has accused the member of chronic ineffectivity due to anxiety and a work-related industrial dispute. The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 is supposed to protect people who make disclosures. Has the Minister of State met this whistleblower to discuss his concerns? Did he inform the Minister of State that an Air Corps official ordered the shredding of health and safety inspection reports dating back to the 1990s? If so, I assume he is not the first person to make such an allegation. What does the Minister of State propose to do in respect of those reports, which cannot now be found?

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