Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As he will be aware, the Government agreed to establish the external oversight body of the Defence Forces on a non-statutory basis initially, in line with one of the 13 recommendations of the independent review group on dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces published on 28 March. The Government moved quickly to establish the body, making the following appointments on 5 April: Professor Brian MacCraith as the independent chair, Ms Josephine Feehily, Ms Patricia King, Ms Julie Sinnamon, Mr. Aongus Hegarty and Ms Jacqui McCrum in her capacity as Secretary General of the Department of Defence. These six appointments are fully in line with the IRG report, which recommended eight appointments, including the Secretary General of the Department of Defence.  

I am also pleased to announce that, with the agreement of Government this morning, I have today appointed Ms Sam des Forges to the body. She is the director of conduct, equity and justice in the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom and has very relevant experience in the areas of diversity and inclusion, transformation of the defence forces complaints system and the implementation of reforms relating to culture and unacceptable behaviours within defence forces. Her unique personal experience, expertise and insight will be of huge value to the body. I intend to make a further appointment to the body in the near future.

The immediate establishment of the external oversight body is a critical element to driving the necessary culture change throughout the Defence Forces and increasing transparency and accountability. The calibre and combined skills and experience of each member gives me every confidence that this will happen. The first task I set the body was to develop detailed terms of reference, in line with the recommendations of the report, for my approval.

I am pleased to confirm the body met for the first time on 17 April. I spoke to the chair after that meeting and I understand the meeting was professional and productive. The body met again on 4 May and I understand it is also meeting today. My expectation is that the chair will submit detailed terms of reference for my approval in the coming weeks. Once approved, the terms of reference will be published. While the body has been established on non-statutory basis, it is my firm intention to introduce legislation to put it on a statutory footing as soon as possible.

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