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

The Women of Honour made very significant submissions in respect of this and during the various meetings we had. I believe we have had eight or nine meetings. In December we agreed to include "psychological harm" in the definition of abuse and that the tribunal may permit evidence of abuse and the consequences of abuse to be heard. We reflected that in the terms of reference and these have now been included in the finalised terms of reference.

In determining the format, we agreed there would be a statutory public inquiry, which was a request of the Women of Honour. I can give the Deputy a list: the statutory inquiry will be by way of tribunal of inquiry with the addition of "physical torture, physical assault, [and] psychological harm" in the definition of abuse; the inclusion of the Protected Disclosures Acts 2014 and 2022 in the definition of complaint processes; the investigation of whether complaints were actively deterred; whether there was a culture which discouraged the making of complaints; provision for safeguards for serving members who gave evidence to the tribunal; provision for the waiver of non-disclosure agreements; the tribunal may permit evidence of abuse and the consequences of abuse to be heard; provision for investigation of the response to complaints regarding the use of hazardous chemicals within the Air Corps headquarters in Baldonnel; and consider the adequacy of the complaints processes in light of what responses were received. These are all the provisions the Women of Honour sought and amendments which are in the terms of reference and were agreed. There are other areas on the suicide issue and the medical board, which will be decided by separate approaches.

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