Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I pay tribute to the courageous Women of Honour who spoke truth to power in highlighting abuse experienced in the Defence Forces. Members will recall the shocking findings of the independent review carried out into the culture in the Defence Forces. The report detailed just how abusive certain experiences of many members were. When that kind of systematic and misogynistic abuse is exposed, it becomes incumbent on the Government to act. The Women of Honour have warned that a toxic culture will fester unless the proposed terms of reference for an inquiry are made effective. My colleague, Senator Wall, has pointed out that without rooting out that culture, we will see an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis in the Defence Forces. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have met with the Women of Honour. Will the Taoiseach accept their calls for an effective tribunal of inquiry, with terms of reference that are sufficiently focused to ensure that not just the abuse itself but victimisation as a result of that abuse, and the accompanying misogynistic culture, are investigated by the tribunal?

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