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

The appointment of the external oversight group was a recommendation of the IRG. We implemented it exactly in line with the recommendation of the group. The report was welcomed in the House for its shocking, but very clear, presentation of the issues facing the Defence Forces and the experiences of the many people it met. The Government has to have the capacity to move and implement recommendations, in particular in terms of a body such as this.

We were very determined, because before the report was published all the questions on defence in this House were as to whether I would implement these recommendations in full. I was asked that here before the report was even published. I said I would. No sooner do I implement the recommendations than the very action of doing so is criticised. There has to be momentum in decision making. We are engaging with all of the groups on the terms of reference and the nature of the statutory inquiry we will have, following the work of the internal review group. However, I am determined to move on issues with regard to the suicide aspect of the report, aviation actions and so on and to get momentum behind the recommendations.

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