Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are a number of recommendations in the report, 13 in total, and we have accepted them all. There are some we can implement very quickly. For example, we can enact legislation to amend the Defence Act 1954 to provide a legislative basis to enable allegations of any type of sexual assault in the Defence Forces to be referred to An Garda Síochána rather than the internal military police. That is among the things I believe everyone agrees on and we can do that very quickly. It is the same for the commissioning of a non-statutory inquiry into the process of medical boarding and a further study of deaths by suicide among current and former members of the Defence Forces over the past 20 years. It is important that we do that. Previous studies have shown that the suicide rate was similar to that for others in the same age group but, quite frankly, we need to look at that again and we will do so.

With regard to a public inquiry, there will be a public inquiry led by a judge or retired judge. I do not want to put a timeline on it because, as the Deputy has pointed out, it is just as important that we get it right. We need to act with speed but also with sensitivity. The Tánaiste and the Government are keen to have it up and running before the summer recess but I do not want to make that commitment today only to find out that it is more complicated than we thought.

Crucial to this is the engagement, full co-operation and confidence of Women of Honour, men and women of honour and others. We need to engage with them before agreeing a timeline.

See this speech in context