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

Yes, members of Defence Forces have been discharged as result of criminal convictions in the courts. Apart from the discharge process, there is an existing local leave mechanism that can be used. On 27 June, lest there be any doubt, I instructed that anyone who had been convicted and is awaiting an appeal or is before the courts on the charge of rape or sexual assault be immediately placed on local leave. From the reports we got back, there was a degree of inconsistency, although, having had further discussions with the Chief of Staff, my understanding is that all are now on local leave and not in service. There have been issues raised as result of recent events around the power of suspension. The Defence Forces regulations state that the discharge process may begin after an appeal. I stress that the local leave mechanism was there all the time in respect of sexual assault or a serious section 3 offence. Those are the ones that are horrific in terms of what we witnessed in the Natasha O'Brien case and other cases.

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