Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

5. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update regarding the independent review group into the allegations made by a group (details supplied). [4773/23]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister provide an update regarding the independent review group that is inquiring into the allegations made by Women of Honour?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to state at the outset that I am fully committed to ensuring that every member of the Defence Forces has the right to undertake duties in a safe environment, underpinned by dignity and equality and by a culture of zero tolerance for any kind of bullying, discrimination, harassment or sexual abuse. That is an absolute priority.

Last year, in my role as Taoiseach, I met with both groups, Women of Honour and Men and Women of Honour, and I was very taken by the incredible courage they displayed in sharing their experiences of unacceptable behaviour in the Defence Forces. From extensive engagements with serving and former members of the Defence Forces, it has also been very clear that there is a critical and immediate need to address the prevailing work culture, including issues relating to the current systems, policies and procedures for dealing with such behaviour in the Defence Forces.

The judge-led independent review group, established on 25 January last year by the Government, has been examining those very 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. The primary objective of all concerned at the outset, therefore, has been to acknowledge issues in the current workplace and to establish a course of action that would address that. The independent review group has undertaken this work in the past 12 months, while also examining matters of a historical nature. I am aware that many stakeholders, including serving members, have lent their support to the independent review group.

Both I and the former Minister for Defence have at all times been clear that we would await the assessment from this report, including with regard to historical matters. It is imperative that the current workplace culture is fully aligned with the principles of dignity, equality, mutual respect and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces. I am fully confident that this report will help us do that while also advising on historical matters. I understand the group is nearing the conclusion of the report and it will be submitted to me later this week. I will consider this report in full in consultation with the Attorney General. I assure the Deputy that I will bring the report to the Government for its consideration and subsequent publication. I have not yet seen the report and therefore do not intend to pre-empt its conclusions or recommendations, but I will revert to the House on these very important matters in due course.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister said this report will be given to him "later in the week". It is Thursday. Is there a specific day for when this report will be provided? At the time Fianna Fáil voted against the Sinn Féin motion for a statutory independent inquiry, we were told that speed was of the essence. I put it to the Minister that the Government gave a commitment to completing this report within a year, on that basis of speed. It has broken that commitment. It is now more than a year and there is still no sign of this report. What plausible explanation for this delay can the Minister give to those who engaged in that process? When was he made aware that this delay was going to take place? Has he requested a specific date for this report to be handed over to him? By the end of the week means nothing to those who engaged in the process. More importantly, after the Minister has received the report, when will he pass it on to the Attorney General and what is the timeframe for him to receive a response?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

When I referenced "later this week", I should have stated that the judge chairing the review group has asked to present the report to me later today. I will receive the report. There has been no delay on my side. Once an independent review group has been appointed, we have to allow the judge to conduct the report without engagement or interference from the political side.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Why then give the commitment of within a year?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will then refer the report to the Attorney General, which is the normal procedure following publication. I intend to bring the report to the Government. I will obviously come back to the House in respect of it and will consult with various stakeholder groups, in addition to those who are clearly involved. It is a report that is of importance to every serving member of the Defence Forces and is of wide public interest to the country at large. It will be a very important report, as will its recommendations and our work on them. As I said, I have not seen the report yet.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The vast majority of people who serve in our Defence Forces are good people, even thought there are those who have had horrendous and horrific experiences. The failure to publish this report in the timeframe that was given by the Government is a very poor reflection. When the Minister was in Lebanon he was quoted as saying it was his intention to make sure that the recommendations contained in the report are fulfilled. Does that include taking actions in addition to the recommendations already included in the high-level action plan for the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, such as amending the complaints procedure to introduce a mechanism away from military command and into the hands of An Garda Síochána?

I am sure the Minister is familiar with Christine Whitecross, the senior Canadian military officer who was tasked with probing similar complaints within their services. She outlined that complaints being investigated by senior officers meant that they were not being correctly dealt with from the very start. Does the Minister intend, if the report recommends it, to initiate a full statutory inquiry, a State apology, and an insistence that the use of any subsequent non-disclosure agreements will only be at the request of victims and not the Department or its representatives?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The important point is that on receipt of the report, I will make a comprehensive statement, when I come to the House following the bringing of the report to the Government, which will deal with a comprehensive range of issues, some of which the Deputy referenced. I have very clear views on those issues and in respect of the full set of recommendations that will come from the report itself. First, I want to get the report and bring it to my Government colleagues because they will also be involved in that decision-making. I will make recommendations to the Government on foot of the report. It will then be debated in the House.