Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the human rights training provided to members of the Defence Forces, including subject matter, duration and upskilling requirements. [7051/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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A number of educational programmes are undertaken in the Defence Forces in regard to international humanitarian law. The military authorities advise that the position is as follows. Lectures on international humanitarian law are conducted by legal officers on all basic officers courses in the Military College. In addition, a day-long seminar on international humanitarian law is conducted for the command and staff course. Non-commissioned officers and privates are instructed on the fundamental rules of international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts regarding the protection of war victims.

Since the 1970s, legal and line officers of the Permanent Defence Force have attended the international military course on the law of armed conflict at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo in Italy. A number of line officers and many legal officers have now completed this course. Since 1990, the Defence Forces have made PDF legal officers available from time to time to conduct courses provided at the institute.

All officers and senior NCOs proceeding to overseas peace support missions receive briefings at the United Nations Training School in the Curragh on international humanitarian law and human rights.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Is it correct that the White Paper on defence includes no reference to human rights training? Does the Minister agree that human rights training and regular human rights upskilling are essential for a modern army, especially given the cases to which he referred in reply to Deputy Finian McGrath's Parliamentary Question No. 75, on some of which I questioned his predecessor?

Is the Minister aware of incidents involving Irish peacekeepers in sexual violence against women in conflict zones in which they have served? Does the international humanitarian law and human rights training course include a module on gender sensitivity designed to educate members of the Defence Forces against engaging in domestic or sexual violence, sexual harassment or other sexual abuses? Does the Minister agree that international humanitarian law training should form part of human rights training?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is correct that there is no reference in the White Paper to this aspect. Nevertheless, the position remains that officers — those in charge — get a very good grounding in international humanitarian law, which includes human rights law. To be frank, I do not know whether the course includes a specific section on sexual harassment, but I will find out and let the Deputy know.

I am not aware of the allegations of sexual violation or mistreatment of women in combat zones by Defence Forces personnel. If that accusation had any validity, it would be thoroughly investigated by the Army.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The cases are not recent. They were investigated in the past.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Since becoming Minister, I have not been aware of any investigation in that line and I do not know the outcome of any such investigations. I am not aware that anybody was specifically punished, dealt with or otherwise. Therefore, I must conclude the investigations found no case to answer or insufficient evidence to condemn anybody.

We send personnel to the international course in San Remo to keep them upskilled on changes to the law. They learn the latest position and keep officers and troops upskilled. Officers receive a good grounding in this area while troops learn the basic rules. We do not have the time or money to turn all our troops into international lawyers. However, the ground rules are fairly clear and officers know what they are doing. I will ascertain whether the human rights aspect of that course contains particular reference to sexual harassment or bullying.