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

The publication of the IRG report was important. It enabled us to take fairly immediate action. I just outlined for the Deputy the amendments to legislation so that in the future all acts of sexual assault will go the civil courts. They will not be tried at military police level or at military court level; that is important. We had given that directive already. We have witnessed that inaction already in a number of cases that unfortunately have arisen but which have almost immediately have been referred to An Garda Síochána. That is progress. It is different from the way things were and it is very important. There is a new rigour there and a robustness in that any sexual assault incident that now occurs gets sent to An Garda Síochána straight away. Today, the Government approved of the detailed implementation plan for the Commission on the Defence Forces, and the overall strategic framework of approximately 130 actions. There is now a specific timeline over the next number of years for the implementation of both the recommendations of the Commission of the Defence Forces, and also in respect of the IRG.

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