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

When the report of independent review group of 12 months ago was published, I immediately took the decision and gave an instruction to the military that all sexual assault allegations were no longer to be dealt with by the military courts or under military law and that all sexual assault and rape cases were to be referred to the civil courts. That has been the position for over 12 months. I can get precise dates on that. I asked for clear specific reasons. Any case in the military that relates to sexual assault must now be referred to the Garda Síochána for criminal investigation.

In the context of other offences, such as abuse, verbal assaults or physical assaults, that fall within the compass of the military courts, there is within the Defence Forces a stronger focus on the victim. We also have Raiseaconcern, which is anonymous vehicle for members of the Defence Forces to raise their issues with an independent body to give some solace to the victims in terms of cases being identified and so on.

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