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

I do not disagree although some of these could be personal injury awards or occupational injuries that occurred during the course of people’s duties and people are entitled to seek redress. I would prefer mediation but under the law - the Oireachtas has provided for this - the State Claims Agency deals with claims on behalf of the State and that includes the Department of Defence in respect of claims on a whole range of issues. We have established a tribunal of inquiry following the independent review group's finding on the failure of the existing complaints processes to adequately and properly deal with complaints that members of the Defence Forces have made over the years. We have already taken steps to try to deal with the interim situation, while the tribunal of inquiry is on the way, and we will continue with that in terms of a more fact-based and statutory-based approach to issues that the Women of Honour and others have raised. Pending that we are undertaking a number of improvements and are reviewing the situation in terms of interim arrangements in order that Defence Force members can complain more effectively and feel more confidence in the complaints process than they do now.

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