Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Tánaiste has met other stakeholders. I believe we have a particular duty to the Women of Honour group, especially given how the review into the situation of these women used language of a type and depth that I suspect has not been seen in very many other reports that have come to the House. Earlier we spoke about recruitment and retention. I have met these women. Most of them come from military families. They love the Defence Forces and want to make them better. I always say that when we sort things for women, we sort things out for everybody. The number of men who have come forward to talk about sexual abuse in the Defence Forces since the Women of Honour group first spoke out is marked. The women gave these men the courage to come out. When we are speaking about a recruitment and retention crisis, it is important we listen to women who are providing their help and assistance for free to make sure we can all be rightly proud of the Defence Forces.

See this speech in context