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

Speaking of the Women of Honour and all the other stakeholders in this, we depend on our Defence Forces. The Tánaiste is so proud of them, as we all are, and we all want this tribunal of inquiry to work. It must work because it is an important tribunal and it has been long-awaited. The Tánaiste knows as well as anybody that if one makes a complaint in the Defence Forces, and this was reiterated earlier this afternoon in the audiovisual room, that it essentially puts an end to one's career, removes any kind of peace of mind in the workplace, and puts a target on one's back. It is all well and good saying that it is up to the judge to decide on complaints and on instances of abuse but the Woman of Honour were very specific with the Tánaiste when they met him before Christmas that they very much wanted to have instances of abuse rather than complaints of abuse in the terms of reference. I know that we will be discussing this tomorrow also and we have amendments which will be brought forward but I very much think the Tánaiste should look very favourably at our amendments tomorrow.

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