Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that WRC rulings are in the public domain and that the adjudicator, in his December 2020 ruling on two complaints brought by an individual, upheld one complaint on the grounds of gender discrimination in respect of promotion, owing to the treatment of absences in access to promotion contrary to section 8(1) of the Employment Equality Acts, 1998 to 2015.  The adjudicator also found that there was no discrimination or victimisation against the complainant within the meaning of sections 2, 6(1) and 74 (2) of the Employment Equality Acts, 1998 to 2015, as alleged in the individual's second complaint.

 The directions of the ruling are currently being implemented by the military authorities with a view to ensuring all training programmes and materials for Defence Forces personnel are fully aligned, and compatible with, the provisions of the relevant equality legislation and that follow-on actions will be progressed. A Defence Forces working group is established comprising membership from the Defence Forces HR, legal and training and education HQ branches as well as representatives from the Defence Forces formations.  The working group has had 12 plenary meetings to date in addition to meetings of sub-groups. Progress is continuing in line with the timelines set out in the ruling which will be fully complied with. Basically, we are taking it seriously. There is a group in place. It has met a dozen times and they are making the appropriate changes in the Defence Forces to ensure that we are consistent with recommendations of that ruling.

See this speech in context