Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of complaints received from members of the armed forces since the bullying in the workplace initiative was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1520/05]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Defence if there are current investigations into bullying in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1405/05]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the growing public concern at levels of bullying within the Defence Forces; if his attention has further been drawn to the accusations that those who complain of bullying within the Defence Forces may be victimised for making such complaints; the efforts he is making to stamp out bullying once and for all in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1494/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1294: To ask the Minister for Defence the mechanisms in place in the Naval Service to investigate allegations of bullying of junior officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2013/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1296: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will take allegations of bullying in the Naval Service seriously; the number of such allegations that have been made each year for the past three years; the results of such allegations and investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2016/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 102, 103, 1294 and 1296 together.

In March 2002, Dr. Eileen Doyle and the external advisory committee presented their report, The Challenge of a Workplace, commonly referred to as the Doyle report, to my predecessor. The contents and recommendations of the Doyle report were accepted in full. Action to implement the recommendations of the report has been one of the highest priorities for the Defence Forces and my Department since its publication. An unprecedented level of time and commitment has been given by the Chief of Staff personally and by senior civil and military management to address the issues raised in the Doyle report. The Chief of Staff has repeatedly emphasised his acceptance of the problems clearly indicated by the Doyle report.

The follow-up action to the Doyle report was driven by the independent monitoring group established in May 2002 to oversee the implementation of the recommendations arising from the report. This group met regularly to oversee the implementation of the report's recommendations. The group's progress report, Response to the Challenge of a Workplace, was launched by my predecessor as Minister, Deputy Michael Smith, on Friday, 24 September 2004. This report describes the progress achieved since the publication of the original Doyle report in 2002.

The monitoring group has overseen the conduct of a major educational awareness programme throughout the Defence Forces. Considerable progress has been made in the past two years. Firm guiding principles had already been set out in the Defence Forces' dignity in the workplace charter. A new administrative instruction on interpersonal relationships was introduced in March 2003 and a user's guide was distributed to every member of the Defence Forces.

The military authorities advise that since March 2003 a total of six complaints of unacceptable behaviour have been formally investigated and concluded in the Defence Forces as a whole. With specific reference to the information sought on the Naval Service, I am advised that there were no such complaints in 2002 and 2003, but one complaint in 2004. The complainant requested an apology, which was duly given and which concluded the matter. There is currently one military police investigation ongoing in regard to allegations of bullying. I cannot comment on this further at this stage as the investigation has not concluded.

Some 200 trained designated contact persons are being put in place throughout the organisation to facilitate the operation of these procedures. Approximately 177 of these designated contact persons have already been trained and a strategic plan is in place to develop the numbers up to 200. An independent and external confidential freefone helpline and counselling service has been set up by expert consultants from Northern Ireland, Staff Care Services. Each serving member of the Permanent Defence Force was informed of this new 24-hour service, which was widely publicised throughout the Defence Forces when initiated. A pilot project to record the experiences and views of outgoing members of the Defence Forces was conducted by the Dublin Institute of Technology research centre. This project, which involved confidential interviews and questionnaires, proved very valuable.

The particular challenges of the military training environment were identified in the initial Doyle report. This area has been given particular attention in the course of the past two years, especially as regards the key pivotal roles of NCOs in leadership and training within brigade formations.

The monitoring group has made a series of important recommendations concerning the ranking, selection, training and reward systems for officer and NCO instructors in the cadet school. An immediate change in the training regime for cadets will have a vital demonstration effect. Therefore, the process of introducing these changes began with the 2004 cadet intake. Some of the changes will take longer to implement and will be addressed through the conciliation and arbitration process or the overall review of the Defence Forces organisation.

The Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 completed its passage through the Oireachtas in November 2004. The provision of a statutory ombudsman for the Defence Forces will provide a further significant impetus in support of the major transformation in culture and practice which has been initiated and which is now well under way.

The Defence Forces are in the process of developing an active and strategic human resource management model of personnel management, development and leadership under the new integrated personnel management system. This is an important step that will facilitate and hasten the achievement and consolidation of our shared objectives.

The monitoring group explicitly recommended that a further independent review and audit of progress within the Defence Forces be carried out no later than 2007 and that the results should be made public. Since the publication of Response to the Challenge of a Workplace, the following action has been taken. First, a steering group has been established to oversee the implementation of the proposals that were contained in the original report. Second, a programme of briefings commenced on 16 November 2004 to ensure that every member of the Permanent Defence Force receives a comprehensive briefing on the report, Response to the Challenge of a Workplace, from awareness teams in each brigade and formation. Both representative associations, PDFORRA and RACO, will have members on the awareness teams. Members of the PDF in all barracks and posts were to be briefed before the end of 2004, with briefings of the Reserve Defence Force to follow.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. He may be aware that the Doyle report stated that over 50% of bullying incidents were associated with training. Is it not the problem that it is difficult to define bullying in an Army context, where training and exchanges between NCOs and soldiers can sometimes be robust? For example, would shouting be regarded as bullying? These are the issues that must be addressed in the context of Army training.

While the Minister stated that he cannot go into detail, an allegation of bullying was made by a soldier who claimed he was locked in a locker and ordered to eat food off the floor. We know from considering armies throughout the world that this sort of ritual punishment is often meted out if soldiers are deemed not up to scratch. In the context of Army training, does the Minister agree it is difficult to define whether this constitutes bullying? Will the Minister tell the House how he defines bullying in an Army context?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with Deputy Gormley that we are dealing with a particular environment and context. All relationships within the military environment are predicated on the fundamental principle that all lawful orders must be obeyed. We have tried to ensure that superiors in their treatment of subordinates will adopt such methods as will ensure respect for authority while at the same time engendering feelings of self-respect and personal honour, which are essential to military efficiency.

Deputy Gormley is correct in regard to the incident to which he refers but as that incident is the subject of a complaint and is being investigated, I would not like to comment on it. However, I agree with the Deputy a certain environment and atmosphere exists which must be taken into account.

I do not have to define bullying. It is judged on a case by case basis. However, a new instruction, regulation A7, on interpersonal relationships within the Army sets out a number of circumstances and states how an officer should treat a subordinate in each case. Designated contact persons have been put in place, the role of whom will be to advise and assist. We have notified all members of the Defence Forces on the terms of regulation A7 and a confidential free telephone line has been introduced. In addition, to assist us in the further reforms necessary following the last report, Response to the Challenge of a Workplace, the experience of retiring members of the Defence Forces is being recorded.

Much has been done since Dr. Doyle's committee reported in 2002. Specific recommendations were made as to further improvements which must take place over the next two years or so, because it is the decision of the Government to accept the recommendation of the Response to the Challenge of a Workplace report that a further report be drawn up in early 2007 to monitor progress. The situation is far from perfect and there is a certain environment which one must take into account.

The Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 establishes an ombudsman's office for complaints by members of the military. That is something the representative associations have been seeking for many years. I was delighted to be Minister when the legislation finally went through both Houses of the Oireachtas. It certainly has the capacity to make a great difference.

A steering group has been established to implement the recommendations of the 2004 report. On 16 November 2004, a series of briefings commenced for all members of the Defence Forces to inform them of their rights, what was being done as per the 2004 report's recommendations and views on what more needed to be done to combat bullying and harassment within the Defence Forces.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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There is concern about the levels of bullying in the Defence Forces. Is the Minister aware that those who make accusations and complain about bullying within the Defence Forces may be victimised? Has this fact been drawn to the Minister's attention? There has been a clear statement that this happens and it is creating much concern. As regards the point made by Deputy Gormley, that case was mentioned publicly. It is rather surprising that to this day, the Minister does not have an up-to-date report on what action was taken concerning the recruit who was bullied and said he was forced to eat off the floor. In view of the efforts being made against bullying, it is disappointing that to this day the Minister does not appear to have received a report on that matter.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Is the Minister aware of how many of the armed forces have availed of the counselling service that is available?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Off the top of my head, I do not know how many but I will obtain that information and will communicate it to Deputy Gormley.

As regards Deputy Sherlock's point about information concerning some complaint that has been made by a member of the military, all I can say is that the matter is being investigated by the military. I do not interfere in internal military investigations of complaints. When the complaints process comes to an end and the military reaches a conclusion, I have no doubt the result will be publicised. It will certainly come into the public domain.

As regards the Deputy's query about victimising people who want to make complaints, I am happy to inform him that the new regulation I mentioned to Deputy Gormley, instruction A7, contains a provision which penalises and makes it an offence for somebody to victimise or retaliate in any way simply because they have made a complaint. That is a matter which will now be subject to disciplinary action. It is firmly spelt out, so there is a whistleblower's charter written in to the new regulations. We have dealt with that matter which is specifically provided for.