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

I thank the Deputy for the question. I again express my unequivocal condemnation of any form of gender-based violence. Such behaviour has no place in a modern society or in the Defence Forces. The nature and type of such attacks on women are deeply troubling and absolutely unacceptable. The depth of feeling expressed at the protests recently is testament to that and I know everyone in this House feels the same.

The process for a military representative in court cases is captured in Defence Forces Regulations, DFR, namely, DFR A.7, paragraphs 55 to 58, which specify that a military representative is required to be present during the trial in a civil court of an accused member of the Defence Forces. The role of that representative, which is also provided for in the regulations, is to assist the court, if called upon to do so, with any queries the court may have in respect of the service record of the accused member. It should be noted that under paragraph 57 of the regulations, the officer detailed to attend the trial is not required to disclose any information concerning the accused soldier, unless required by the court to do so. If required by the court, and again in line with the regulations, the military liaison officer will furnish any information in his or her possession as to the soldier’s character and service, and full particulars of any previous convictions by a civil court or by a court-martial for an offence under the Defence Act 1954.

The officer detailed to attend the civil trial of a soldier will be furnished by the soldier’s commanding officer with a certified copy of the soldier’s record sheet, A.F 43A, copies of any other documents in possession of the unit relevant to the soldier’s previous service or conduct, and previous trials or convictions of the soldier by a civil court. Immediately after the conclusion of the proceedings, the officer attending the trial will prepare a brief but comprehensive report of the trial and findings. This report, together with documents originally furnished, will be transmitted by such officer to the soldier’s commanding officer directly. I have asked the military-----

See this speech in context