Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I first commend the bravery and determination of these women in their pursuit of truth and justice. There should be no delay by this Government in the implementation of a commission of investigation into allegations by the Women of Honour. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, can do the right thing here and I implore him to do that. The State must stand up to the perpetrators of abuse towards women and let them see their alleged positions of superiority do not become a hiding place for their actions.

I receive weekly correspondence, as all the Deputies do, from an ex-soldier who has been championing the cause of sexual abuse survivors, both male and female, in the forces over many years, and nearly all at the hands of senior officers. This is not a new problem in the armed forces but it must stop and must be dealt with now. A workplace should be a place considered a safe environment. These brave women put their lives at risk in war-torn countries acting as peacemakers and representing the highly respected peacekeeping record of this country. They should not have to fear also their peers or superiors and targeted sexual abuse.

We have only heard in recent days of a breach of Covid-19 restrictions, where up to 260 people attended a barbecue at a time when outdoor gatherings were limited to 15 people, and the case of another alleged sexual abuse case on a young female soldier by a senior officer at the same event. There seems to be a sense of entitlement and a lack of fear of accountability in the Defence Forces. This must be dealt with. Senior officers, along with the Department and the Government as a whole, must do better.

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