Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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2. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the progress of the interim report by the independent review group into sexual abuse in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57624/22]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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My question is on the interim report by the independent review group on sexual abuse in the Defence Forces. This is the most serious of matters. The Women of Honour group has brought this to the attention not only of the Army but also the State. It wants an update on the interim report, which the Minister has probably seen.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Gino Kenny for raising this question as it gives me an opportunity to put on the record of the House where we are in this regard.

This is a very serious issue from my perspective that we are trying to deal with comprehensively.

As the Deputy will be aware, I am committed to ensuring every member of the Defence Forces is able to carry out his or her duties in a workplace underpinned by dignity and equality. The judge-led independent review group, which I established last January following Government approval, is examining the systems, policies and procedures for dealing with issues relating to bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the Defence Forces as well as the prevailing workplace culture. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that this review is a necessary and critical first step to address the need for a safe work environment for serving members, with zero tolerance for such unacceptable behaviour. The serving members of the Defence Forces expect nothing less.

I have received nine updates from the independent review group, including when it asked for a fourth member to assist it in completing its work. This request was approved. In line with the terms of the review, I have also been briefed via an interim report and at the request of the group, although this report will not be published given the group’s work is not complete. It would be inappropriate, therefore, for me to discuss this interim report. The work of the independent review group is entirely independent, in keeping with the terms of reference. The group has full independence and autonomy to undertake its body of work under its chair, Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon.

I assure the Deputy that the work of the group is ongoing and the final report is expected to be submitted to me before the end of the year, in line with the terms of reference. The terms of reference for the review are wide-ranging and provide that the Government may consider further work on receipt of the independent review findings. As I said, I am eager for this work to conclude and I reiterate that the final report will be brought to the Government before being published. I look forward to the report forming the basis of the next stage of actions to deal with this issue.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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As the Minister noted, these allegations are of the utmost seriousness in regard to our Defence Forces. There is a frustration in respect of the interim report. The Women of Honour, who have made these allegations, would like to see that interim report and I think they have every justification in that regard. My understanding is that a number of other victims have come forward in the meantime to make allegations of the most serious nature against individuals in the Defence Forces. It is imperative for the process to proceed with confidence that the women see this interim report, where it is going and whether it is going in the direction they would like. We want accountability and justice for the women who have been subjected to this awful conduct in the Defence Forces.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand that sentiment and I understand people wanting to know the status of the report and the direction of travel in terms of thought and recommendations. The independent review group itself asked that the interim report would not be published, because its work is not complete. Publishing, therefore, or making publicly available work that has not concluded or been finalised is something it was concerned about. We do not have much longer to wait, and in a few weeks we will have the full report. I hope to be able to act on that quickly. I expect the report will respond with the seriousness we would expect to the stories the group has been hearing and the evidence it has collected. I encourage all interested parties to interact with the independent review group to ensure it will get as complete a picture as possible in order that it can make recommendations that can allow the Defence Forces to move forward and the Government to make the appropriate decisions. I said at the start of this process that the independent review group was not going to be the start and the end of the process. The group is going to map out the course of actions we should take on foot of the evidence it has looked at, and I hope to be able to move to that phase as soon as we get the report and I bring it to the Government.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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From the outset, there have been issues with the terms of reference of the review. I understand that witnesses cannot be compelled, so there is something of a failure in that regard. If the Women of Honour, at this juncture, do not have full confidence in the review group and its interim report, that sets alarm bells ringing. The people who have made these allegations will not be included in the interim report, and that could lead to a failure.

I acknowledge that the Minister said this is neither the beginning nor the end of the process but rather that it is a process that seeks accountability for the grave actions these women were subjected to. It is important, therefore, for the Women of Honour to be given confidence and transparency in respect of a report that is ultimately about them. It is about what happened to them and their peer group, so it is important they have confidence in the process.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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That is true. This group is, of course, looking at historical cases and at how we should deal with them in a comprehensive manner to establish the truth and so on. It is also looking at current practices within the Defence Forces, as well as the culture and procedures within the body. As an employer, I have an obligation towards people who are currently serving in the Defence Forces to ensure I act on recommendations to modernise the organisation, to change a culture that has been there and that needs to change and to ensure that everything from complaints procedures to dealing with historical investigations and so on will be dealt with in a comprehensive way.

That is what the review group is doing and it has spoken to many serving and former Defence Forces personnel. I certainly hope the Women of Honour group will interact fully with this independent review group in order that its recommendations can be trusted by all interested parties. That is what we are trying to do here. Nothing is hidden about this. There are no agendas, apart from seeking to establish the truth and make appropriate changes for the future.