Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 50: To ask the Minister for Defence his proposals on the back of the findings of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17253/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 55: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has studied the report of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces 2010; the action or actions, if any, to be taken arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17265/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 55 together.

In accordance with the terms of the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004, the fifth annual report of the Ombudsman was laid before each House of the Oireachtas on 21 June 2011. The report shows a welcome drop in the number of complaints currently lodged with the Ombudsman, down from 229 in 2008 to 116 in 2010.

The Ombudsman's report notes that there were delays in 2010 in responding to the final reports of the Ombudsman with 19 cases awaiting attention at the end of the year. I am advised that the delay was largely due to the complexity of the complaints and competing priorities within the unit dealing with the reports. However, I am pleased to confirm that a final determination has been issued to the Ombudsman in respect of all these outstanding cases. I engaged when appointed Minister in ensuring that the cases that had accumulated and needed to be dealt with were addressed with some speed and I am confident that final reports submitted by the Ombudsman during 2011 will be considered within the earliest timeframe. In that regard, procedures to prioritise the processing of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces final reports have been put in place by both the Defence Forces and the Department.

Since the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman in 2005, a number of human resource procedures have been reviewed and revised following recommendations from the Ombudsman in her final reports, for example, the selection processes for career courses and overseas service. In addition, the recommendations of the Ombudsman have informed the development of a new promotions scheme, which is near finalisation, as part of the commitments under the Croke Park agreement. Almost 50% of all complaints arise from administrative issues in the promotion system and the new scheme is designed to resolve these issues. A standing committee on human resource issues also reviews the implementation of systemic recommendations from the Ombudsman on a monthly basis. While dealing with the individual grievances referred to in her reports, the reports are also used to inform the ongoing development of best practice in human resource management for the Defence Forces.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome the proposal regarding the new promotions scheme. When does the Minister expect that to be implemented? Even though the scheme has not been finalised, I presume there is an indicative timeframe. As he mentioned, a substantial number of the complaints recorded relate to promotions.

The Ombudsman referred in her report to the slowness of ministerial responses to proposals in previous reports. While that is not the current Minister's responsibility, will the proposals in her latest final report be addressed with greater urgency over the next year or so?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I regard it as important that the conclusions of the Ombudsman are taken seriously, that they are reflected upon in the manner in which the legislation envisages and that, ultimately, a decision is made by the Minister as to whether to fully implement recommendations made or whether circumstances arise, which create a difficulty in that regard. I paid particular regard to the outstanding reports from the Ombudsman which I discovered existed when I took office. I am committed to ensuring where individual members of the Defence Forces have a grievance, which results in a request by them for the Ombudsman's intervention, that following the Ombudsman completing that process, the role that the Minister is required by statute to play is played with reasonable speed and that decisions are made.

With regard to the timeframe for the new promotions system, I expect that will be in place relatively shortly. I do not want to give an absolute date but it will be done within a short time.