Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I mentioned to the Tánaiste before that I am a proud son of a retired Defence Forces veteran. My dad spent 25 years in the Army, both at home and abroad. Growing up as his son, I was aware of some of the problems in the Defences Forces, mainly in relation to pay and conditions. My father had to work three jobs at one stage, his Army job and two other jobs, just to keep shirts on our backs and food on the table back then. I was aware of those problems growing up but I was not aware of those outlined in this report.

I welcome the publication of the report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces. The review has recommended a statutory inquiry be established to examine the allegations of sexual violence, harassment and bullying in the Defence Forces and I welcome that. I welcome the Women of Honour to the Gallery today. They have always made clear that nothing less than a statutory inquiry will find the underlying cause of these critical issues. I echo the calls of the Women on Honour for a statutory inquiry like no other. It has to bring about much-needed change and the transformation that is required in the Department of Defence. From day one, Sinn Féin has been calling for a full statutory inquiry to examine these allegations and I welcome that the review has recommended this. The statutory inquiry needs to be much broader. The issues extend into the Department of Defence and the Office of the Ombudsman. We need to put a statutory process in place to truly investigate and understand the extent of the issues. We can then start putting solutions in place.

I had the opportunity to speak on this matter during questions in the Chamber last week. On the back of that, I received an email from Yvonne O'Rourke on behalf of the Women of Honour expressing their gratitude. The reason I am bringing this up is that it is yet another example of the dignified and respectful way the Women of Honour have carried themselves throughout this harrowing journey and process. I read Yvonne O'Rourke's contribution in The Irish Timesthis morning. I will quote some of her words as it is important that those most affected by the systemic failures in the Defence Forces have their voices heard. These are her words, not mine, as I could not write so well:

We need a statutory inquiry like no other. This inquiry needs to be different from ones that commenced before. I like to think of it as a David and Goliath moment. [ ... ] We need this inquiry to fire a slingshot and bring about the much-needed change and transformation that is required by the Department of Defence in its entirety.

The question remains – will our voices finally be heard and will the silence that so many of us held on to for so many years in the past, due to the crippling shame that the experience of being sexually abused and discriminated against bestowed on us, finally be removed? Is this really a watershed moment? [ ... ]

I believe this is our time; opportunities like this come about once in a lifetime ... This will be a defining moment and be remembered for what it is: a piece of history.

They are powerful words. I again commend the Women of Honour and all the survivors affected by these issues for their bravery and determination in bringing these shocking and deeply concerning issues to light. Opportunities to make systemic changes do not come around too often. We simply must not waste this one.

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