Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an tuarascáil seo. Is tuarascáil fhíorthábhachtach í. Táimid buíoch don chathaoirleach, Bronagh O'Hanlon, agus de bhaill an ghrúpa as ucht an méid oibre a rinne siad agus as an tseirbhís a thug an grúpa don tír. Léiríonn an tuarascáil seo scéal uafásach laistigh de na Fórsaí Cosanta i rith na nglún agus suas go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. De dheasca na tuarascála, tá i bhfad níos mó scéalta agus eolais againn ó thaobh rudaí scannalach a tharla sna Fórsaí Cosanta. Anois, caithfimid féachaint ar aghaidh chun an fhiosrú reachtúil a chur ar bun agus i bhfad níos mó a dhéanamh ionas go mbeidh an scéal i bhfad níos fearr sna glúine atá le teacht.

I welcome the opportunity to have these initial statements in respect of the report of the independent review group. As I said last week, I intended to publish the report this week but also to follow that up with an opportunity for statements in the House because I felt it was important that the Dáil would have an early opportunity to discuss it. As I pointed out earlier this week, the health, sustainability and strength of our Defence Forces is a question of fundamental national importance. I appreciate the seriousness with which all of our public representatives are approaching this issue. The work and report of the independent review group raises the most profound issues. I am grateful to the chair and members for the forthright manner in which the report is written and for the clarity of the findings and recommendations. The value of the report is acknowledged by the widespread support for its recommendations and the universal reaction of shock and dismay at its content and conclusions.

People are understandably appalled that such unacceptable and appalling practices took place and continue today in such a vital arm of our State. As I said, I again pay tribute to the group members for the work they have done because it was not an easy task but it was a massively important one. Their diligence, clarity and commitment of the report is to their credit. The report pulls no punches. The findings are stark, shocking and shameful. Notwithstanding the work of the very many good people who serve in the Defence Forces, the report makes it clear that the culture and work environment that currently exist are quite simply unacceptable. The report reveals a culture that reinforces unacceptable behaviour. Individuals who were prepared to stick their heads above the parapet and make a complaint faced potentially career-ending repercussions. The details in this report about the type of attacks perpetrated on both males and females are nothing short of disgusting. I assure the House that I am absolutely determined and fixed in my view that this report must be a watershed moment and will be the catalyst for the transformation of Ireland’s Defence Forces.

Indeed, many people and many thousands of serving and former members of the Defence Forces are disappointed and angry that the institution has been and continues to be let down by those who behaved and continue to behave in such totally inappropriate and unacceptable ways. I thank the Women of Honour, the Men and Women of Honour and, indeed, those current members serving in the Defence Forces for raising these issues and being such an important catalyst for the initiation of this report.

Given the value of the report and the impact it is having, I am satisfied establishing this independent review as a first scoping exercise when these issues came to the fore in 2021 was the correct decision. It is important we build on it quickly, and a statutory inquiry is one of the logical and necessary next steps in examining how complaints have been dealt with but also in facilitating the opportunity for those involved to bring their experiences to such a statutory inquiry. I assure the House I will bring forward terms of reference for this inquiry as soon as possible and engage with stakeholders in their preparation. As I said in my initial response to the report, a completely honest appraisal of the problems and a comprehensive plan to address them is the only way to honour the contribution of serving and retired personnel. It is the only way to rebuild trust. In that spirit, I am clear the Department of Defence must, and will be, included in the terms of reference for the statutory inquiry.

In addition to the establishment of the statutory inquiry, we will establish an external independent complaints process for members of the Defence Forces. I will also be establishing an external oversight body on a statutory basis to oversee the culture change and reform required and will be amending legislation to provide the legislative basis to enable allegations of any type of sexual assault in the Defence Forces in the State to be referred to An Garda Síochána. I confirm, as announced earlier this week, that while the relevant amendments to legislation are prepared to give legal effect to this, there are situations that pertain, in terms of overseas deployments, where because the Garda does not have jurisdiction, military police will continue to operate. Any complaints by serving members of any form of sexual assault in the State will now have these complaints dealt with by An Garda Síochána, and this arrangement is being put in place now. We have also agreed a non-statutory inquiry into the process of medical boarding and a study of deaths by suicide of both current and former members of the Defence Forces over the past 20 years.

Together with these important actions, I will now be commencing a significant programme of reform and culture. It is vitally important all the stakeholders recognise that the transformation required, including this statutory inquiry, addresses the issues that are important to them. I will engage with all stakeholders as soon as they have had the opportunity to consider the report in detail. We cannot ignore either the findings in the Mohan report, published last week, that also point to the need for a complete reset in the Defence Forces’ culture with regard to responsibility and accountability.

While the independent review group report addresses both men’s and women’s experience and details some horrific abuse of both men and women, the experience of many women in particular within the Defence Forces has been truly appalling. A line from the report that has resonated far and wide is “the Defence Forces barely tolerates women". At a time when it is recognised that we need more women in the Defence Forces, especially at the higher ranks, such comments can hardly be more damaging. The conclusions with regard to discrimination, particularly with respect to maternity policies, are scarcely believable in the context of a modern workplace. An associated but very relevant and important element of this body of work is the area of maternity and protected leave policies. A number of policy documents, including regulatory amendments, are to be submitted to me for consideration and approval shortly.

As I made clear on Tuesday, resistance to change within the Defence Forces as identified by the independent review group is no longer an option. As Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, I simply will not tolerate it. As I said, I have directed that, with immediate effect, all allegations of sexual assault by serving members occurring in the State are to be referred directly to An Garda Síochána for investigation and prosecution. Part of the reason this unacceptable behaviour has gone on for so long has been the prevalence of a culture where victims did not feel empowered to speak up. There is a clear and immediate need to remove the fear of reprisal and retaliation for making a complaint, which many people feel would be, and can still be, career ending. I will be bringing forward legislation to establish an independent complaints system without delay. In the meantime I have emphasised, and now reiterate lest there is any lack of clarity, that serving members can submit their complaint directly to the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces without having to submit themselves to internal processes first. The development, also without delay, of a retaliation prevention strategy with appropriate and robust sanctions will be another critical element in tackling and beating the culture of fear and silence where unacceptable behaviour is concerned.

Separately, the recommendations of the recent Commission on the Defence Forces are also important. The strategic framework we are putting in place to drive these through will be an important enabling mechanism for delivery of the independent review group’s actions. There have been many reports and plans in the past, but my priority now is to ensure there is one strategic plan for the transformation of the Defence Forces that is fully understood by everyone, has the appropriate governance and reporting mechanisms and is properly resourced. I want progress to be seen internally and to be reported externally. Clear and irrefutable evidence of change on the ground is the only thing that will rebuild the trust and confidence of serving members. Our end goal must be a safe workplace where self worth is actively promoted and mutual respect becomes a dominant feature in an organisation that is open to change. I want a career the Defence Forces to be one where every individual feels valued, respected and recognised for the positive contribution he or she is making to the country's security. The establishment of the external oversight body will be a critical element in achieving this goal, and I hope to update the House on progress with this in the very short term. Once this body is established, I will introduce legislation to put it on a statutory footing.

The implementation of the independent review group’s recommendations will require a considerable and shared effort, not least on the part of the Defence Forces leadership. Following extensive discussions with the Chief of Staff, I am confident the scale of what is needed is understood. This week has been a very challenging period for the Defence Forces, but for the good professional people of integrity who serve in them, it also marks a new start. For the perpetrators of any form of unacceptable, misogynist or bullying behaviour, this is the end of it. It simply has to stop and you have no place and no future in Óglaigh na hÉireann.

Yesterday, I had the privilege to attend a commissioning ceremony of the members of the 98th cadet class and the 40th Air Corps cadet class. I met and spoke to 41 young men and women of impeccable personal character and personal courage. I met and spoke to their families also. Those are 41 young men and women who made the decision to pursue a career in the service and security of their country; 41 young men and women who pledged an oath that may require them to place themselves in harm’s way in the service of the State and its citizens. As a Government, we have made it clear we will make the unprecedented investment necessary to build a Defence Forces that is fit for purpose and worthy of their oath. With the support of this House we will pass the legislation necessary to ensure the Defence Forces is the quality workplace they deserve, but it is their personal leadership that will make the difference. Our Defence Forces are, and have been, a key pillar of Irish life since before the foundation of our State. They have been central to the presentation of our foreign policy in the world and our record as a nation strongly committed to the rules-based international order. For almost 70 years, our military has made an honourable and internationally recognised contribution to United Nations peacekeeping efforts. When I think of those 41 graduates and those who will come after them, I am hugely encouraged in the belief that their personal character and courage, their leadership and commitment, will help ensure our Defence Forces will come through this crisis and that the contribution of the Defence Forces can continue and excel in the years and decades to come.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputies Clarke and Funchion are sharing time.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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I commend all of those who engaged in this process, those who supported them and those who showed persistence, bravery and determination to see the Defence Forces reform and be better. They have been vindicated in this stark and harrowing report. Some of them are in the Public Gallery.

I acknowledge the level of detail the independent review group delved into while conducting its work to produce this report. I thank the group.

There must be a starting point in this process, not only in terms of the Permanent Defence Force but also the Reserve Defence Force, the Department of Defence and the role Ministers play. Every cog in the mechanism of defence must change, and only full acceptance of that need will result in the requisite change. Sinn Féin will work with the Government in a collaborative way, but let me be clear. We will hold it to account every step of the way until such time as every single member of the Defence Forces serves in an environment that is at least a safe place to do so.

I have heard this report being referred to as 15 months of investigation and the Tánaiste stated the issues came to the fore in 2021. That is not accurate. The contents of this report have been known, but ignored, for decades. This report is almost 400 pages that once again capture in a single place the extent of abuse experienced by some in uniform at the hands of others in uniform. Senator Clonan's report was published in 2000. It showed that one in four women serving in the Defence Forces had been subjected to sexual abuse. On the back of that report, a Government study review group was established in 2003 by the then Fianna Fáil Minister, Mr. Michael Smith.

Culture eats strategy for breakfast. This is particularly true where there exists a chain of command or a hierarchy. Without effective implemented policies, management and control, nothing is going to change. This report represents if not one of the darkest days in the Defence Forces, then certainly one of the bleakest to date, and it demands immediate action. I did not get past the glossary of terms before I started feeling revulsion. "Tubbing" and "beasting" are terms we associate with hazing.

I have seen commentary attempting to belittle the report's findings. To be crystal clear, this report is not talking about misconstrued banter or appropriate actions necessary in the command structure of a military. It details the deliberate, orchestrated, repeated and systemic abuse of power that crossed a line to abuse, assault, humiliate, dehumanise and strip people of their dignity, safety, in many cases their careers and, most likely in some cases, their lives. It details a failed system whereby access to recourse is purposely contorted in a manner to demean further and to compound abuse. As the report states on page 44, this outright abuse of power is not only historical but ongoing.

The report is clear that the experience and actions detailed are not universal. Not everyone experienced abuse, not everyone engaged in abuse, and not everyone failed to act on reported abuse. There is no doubt the majority of members who serve in the Defence Forces are good women and men. They are proud of their service and to wear the uniform, and they uphold the values of the Defence Forces. They, too, are appalled and sickened by the contents of this report. Many of them are hurting, are questioning and are looking at some colleagues from a different perspective than previously.

Those members who espouse the core values of respect, moral courage and integrity must not give cover to those whose actions have resulted in such pain and suffering among their colleagues. They must ask themselves whether those people, through their actions, truly deserve their loyalty. The easy thing to do is to say nothing, but the right thing to do is to say something. I ask that of them because I fundamentally believe this report has not captured the full scale of experiences, which will only be done through a statutory inquiry. There are people who have served and are currently serving who did not engage in the process, not because their experience did not merit inclusion but because their trust and confidence in reporting mechanisms and structures have been so badly eroded they are essentially non-existent.

I do not have time to go into the detail of every area referenced in the report and I have no intention of placing a hierarchy on the horrendous lived experiences of others or of speaking only to some. Each is important. Each needs and deserves an equal measure to be addressed. Every line, paragraph and chapter needs to be read, read again and then implemented. The question for us today is where we go from here. What are the immediate steps that need to be taken now? As the report states, a failure to implement the recommendations will mean a further regression and the Defence Forces' position could deteriorate beyond repair. When will the engagements around the setting of the terms of reference for the statutory inquiry begin and will the Tánaiste ensure they are survivor focused? Will the inquiry include all arms of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force, the Department of Defence and ministerial roles? Nothing less is acceptable. What are the proposed timelines for the legislative changes that are necessary? What are the proposed timelines around the non-statutory oversight entity?

Those who serve honourably and will serve honourably in the future deserve better. The survivors deserve justice and the perpetrators need to be held to account. As Women of Honour said in their statement the other day, justice delayed is justice denied. They have had justice delayed far too much to date.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the women who are visiting the Dáil and commend their courage and bravery. I commend all of the women who spoke up. We owe them a debt of gratitude. Speaking up is not easy to do in any way, shape or form, but especially when dealing with such a male-dominated organisation. I also commend my colleague, Deputy Clarke, on her work on this matter.

Too often, the Dáil debates issues that have negatively affected women. When I heard there was going to be a statutory inquiry, I welcomed it because that will be good. I also welcome that any allegation of rape or sexual assault will be handled by An Garda Síochána, which is important. Many people probably did not realise that was not already the case or understand there was a different system.

I have had a great deal of engagement with survivors of mother and baby institutions. I saw their hope at first when they heard there was going to be an inquiry, but its terms of reference were not fit for purpose and the investigation led to more anger, hurt and questions. I do not want to see a repeat of that. As my colleague stated, we want to see timeframes for the terms of reference, but it is important they be done correctly and in consultation with the women, are fit for purpose and do not repeat of what came before.

I am conscious that much of what has been said in the Dáil today and in the media has significantly damaged the reputation of the Defence Forces and undermines the dedicated women and men who commit to a life of service for the public good. Shame on all those in positions of power who have let those brave people down. Shame on those who allowed female service women to be raped, attacked and assaulted. Shame on the bullies who intimidated, coerced and controlled those under their supervision.

I reiterate my colleague’s call for a timeline, but what is primarily needed is consultation.

The views and wishes of the women must be front and centre, and they need to be respected.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Over the years, we have been required to read several reports of abuse, wrongdoing, harassment and worse. It does not become easier when a report like this, from an independent review group, comes before us. From the glossary of terms on page 7 which explains words that are new to all of us, namely, "beasting", "mobbing" and "tubbing", through to the final recommendations on page 96, it makes for difficult but essential reading.

Throughout my career, I have interacted with and held in the highest regard the men and women of our Defence Forces. From putting themselves on the front line in defence of our State against an armed militia that challenged our democratic institutions, to representing our nation with honour on numerous international fields and keeping the peace, they have made us all proud. Against that backdrop, the happenings set out so clearly in the report are both deeply depressing and an urgent call to action. I join others in saluting the bravery and persistence of the women and men of honour whose demand for justice has brought us to this point. I welcome those present today.

I note the work of Katie Hannon in her hugely impactful documentary that was broadcast in September 2021, as well as the work and persistent campaigning of our colleague, Senator Tom Clonan. Although serious doubts were expressed about the potential of this investigation, chaired so ably by Ms Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon, we have here, written in the clearest terms, an analysis of systemic and enduring abuse, a culture of conformity that isolates and seeks to diminish any person who challenges the system - a system where 88% of female members who were surveyed experience one or more forms of sexual harassment. Many of those who did not experience such things attributed this to keeping their heads down and batting off inappropriate comments.

The time I have does not allow me to reference in any proper way the litany of issues that have been raised. Instead, in the few minutes I have I will look to what comes next. First and foremost is a statutory inquiry. The Tánaiste has promised that. It should be judge-led with powers of compellability and terms of reference to be drawn up, I hope, in full consultation with the women and men of honour and the chair of the review group. We also need a restorative process to heal the wrongs led by an experienced practitioner in restorative practice. I hope to hear from the Tánaiste on that. Another requirement is immediate legislative change to provide Defence Forces personnel with access to an independent external complaints service and ready access to An Garda Síochána for criminal activity. We must have external oversight of the Defence Forces. I welcome what the Tánaiste said. I remember the debate on the external oversight of An Garda Síochána, which led to the establishment of the Policing Authority. I hope the body overseeing the Defence Forces will have the same sort of capacity. I look forward to debating that in the very near future. There are other recommendations too, dealing with zero tolerance of reprisals and retaliation, new gender inclusivity and diversity policies and reforms around medical care. All of these measures are urgently needed and we need to devote time to implementing all of those in a proper, thorough but speedy fashion.

Ultimately, as always with institutional failure, the greatest change will be a cultural change. So many decent men and women have worn the uniform of our nation with pride over the duration of our State, and still do so today. They, and Ireland, require us now to ensure Óglaigh na hÉireann become an exemplar for inclusion and a place of mutual respect where the norms of civility exist and where no person feels threatened or uneasy in their daily task of serving this nation.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Like others who have spoken on this very important issue, I take no pleasure in participating in today’s statements. While we rightly congratulate An Tánaiste and Minister for Defence on both the speedy publication of the report of the independent review group into the Defence Forces and his commitment to implementing a comprehensive programme of immediate actions to address the shocking findings of this report, we should both acknowledge and regret that it took a sustained campaign by the Women of Honour group to bring us to this point. I welcome our visitors to the Public Gallery. Through their work over the years, and more recently in their campaigning, they have done the State a great service.

It is vitally important that the actions outlined by An Tánaiste are taken immediately. It is almost two years since RTÉ broadcast Katie Hannon’s harrowing “Women of Honour” documentary on radio. In that programme, the Women of Honour group highlighted just a small sample of the horrors and injustices experienced by both the women and men of the Defence Forces. As the group stated one year later in October 2022:

Individually we all had our own experiences and challenges to deal with. However, collectively we decided to stand together to empower ourselves in the face of bullies and we hoped to empower others to do the same.

Their tireless persistence and calmness in the face of what we should now acknowledge was bureaucratic inertia is not just commendable; it is inspirational. They have shown us that you either stand for change or you do not stand at all.

I am most pleased to see that their primary and long-standing call for the establishment of a statutory inquiry has been agreed to. I commend An Tánaiste and Minister for Defence on moving to establish this statutory inquiry, which I hope can conduct the bulk of its hearings in public, and for committing to establish an external oversight body on a statutory basis. These are important decisions, both for the short- and long-term future of our Defence Forces. Together, they will contribute to the betterment of the Defence Forces. This will be achieved through a thorough investigation, with identification of all issues and contributory factors, and a comprehensive understanding of the organisation’s failures.

The regret is that is has taken us almost two years to get to this point. We should thank the chair of the independent review group, Ms Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon, and the other members of this group, for producing such a stark and frank report. As An Tánaiste remarked, the review group pulled no punches in its findings. This is indeed a watershed moment for our Defence Forces. Like many other Members of this House, I regularly engage socially with both former and current members of the Defence Forces. Many of these personnel are close personal friends. In recent weeks and months I have asked many of them about this issue. While none of those with whom I have spoken had personally experienced bullying, harassment, discrimination or sexual harassment, I was struck, and, indeed, dismayed, by how many said they were not surprised or shocked by the allegations.

More worrying was the extent to which they said that the mantra - then and now - was still one of "Never complain, never explain". While the personal experience of the majority of those who serve in uniform and proudly wear those brass buttons emblazoned with the harp of Ireland and the letters “IV” for the Irish Volunteers may be a happy and constructive one, there is no denying that this is not the case for a large number. To our shame, many of those are women.

As Minister for Defence, An Tánaiste knows that the greatest challenge he faces is delivering on the level of ambition 2 goal of the Defence Forces commission report, namely, increasing Defence Forces strength to 11,500 by 2028. That is a huge challenge but one made more difficult by the fact that the Defence Forces strength today is over 1,500 personnel below what it should be. We should have 9,500 women and men in uniform today. In reality, we have fewer than 8,000. The challenge is not just to recruit an additional 400 more men and women each year from now to 2028; it is to double that.

The only way we can viably achieve this not overly ambitious target of increasing Defence Forces strength to 11,500 is to recruit an additional 750 personnel per year from now until 2028, including a higher percentage of women. Let us recall that we had 10,500 members of the Defence Forces just over a decade and a half ago.

It is vital that the toxic culture of hypermasculinity, which, as the independent review group report says, views women as occupying a low status in the Defence Forces, is driven out and eradicated. It is somewhat ironic that our Defence Forces are internationally respected for the high-quality training they provide to officers from other defence forces in the provision of fundamental human rights at the United Nations Training School Ireland at the Curragh. We are all proud of that school and its work but we must practise at home what we preach abroad. The actions of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence are an important step in achieving this but it is just one step out of many that are needed. We must make sure that membership of Óglaigh na hÉireann is seen as both a fulfilling and rewarding career. We must address the recruitment and retention crisis that has long faced our Defence Forces. Only a few weeks ago, Deputy Howlin, Deputy Durkan and I discussed this matter of the Defence Forces with An Tánaiste at question time. We must stop telling ourselves that pay and conditions are not a barrier to recruitment and retention; they clearly are. We must listen more attentively to what the representative groups, the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, are telling us. The numbers do not lie, and nor do the stories of Defence Forces members having to sleep in cars between duties as they cannot afford to travel home or live closer to their posts. These may be isolated instances but they have no place in today’s world for people who are serving our country with distinction. No man or woman loses their basic rights to respect and a secure working environment at home just because he or she dons the country’s uniform. If anything, our obligations to those who wear that uniform should be increased, not diminished, as they are willing to put their own safety at risk to preserve ours.

I have the privilege of representing two Border counties. A few weeks ago in this Chamber, we discussed the proud tradition we have had in Cavan over many decades and the family connection. The Tánaiste met some of those people in the Lebanon recently. These are families in which generation after generation have served our country not just at home but have done us proud abroad as well. One of the proudest days I remember as a public representative in my home town in Cavan was the day the then Minister for Defence, our former party colleague Michael Smith, reviewed the infantry group being deployed to Lebanon at that time. It was a proud moment for all of us from County Cavan, Cavan town and for the families whose members were leaving, wearing the Irish uniform to don the United Nations uniform and do our country proud in some of the most dangerous places in the world. We must never forget that and the important role our Defence Forces play in ensuring our foreign policy and standing as a country are respected throughout the world.

I commend the Tánaiste on his reaction to this report today. I hope all the necessary actions can be implemented as rapidly as possible. That is the least the people who have led this campaign deserve.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I mentioned to the Tánaiste before that I am a proud son of a retired Defence Forces veteran. My dad spent 25 years in the Army, both at home and abroad. Growing up as his son, I was aware of some of the problems in the Defences Forces, mainly in relation to pay and conditions. My father had to work three jobs at one stage, his Army job and two other jobs, just to keep shirts on our backs and food on the table back then. I was aware of those problems growing up but I was not aware of those outlined in this report.

I welcome the publication of the report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces. The review has recommended a statutory inquiry be established to examine the allegations of sexual violence, harassment and bullying in the Defence Forces and I welcome that. I welcome the Women of Honour to the Gallery today. They have always made clear that nothing less than a statutory inquiry will find the underlying cause of these critical issues. I echo the calls of the Women on Honour for a statutory inquiry like no other. It has to bring about much-needed change and the transformation that is required in the Department of Defence. From day one, Sinn Féin has been calling for a full statutory inquiry to examine these allegations and I welcome that the review has recommended this. The statutory inquiry needs to be much broader. The issues extend into the Department of Defence and the Office of the Ombudsman. We need to put a statutory process in place to truly investigate and understand the extent of the issues. We can then start putting solutions in place.

I had the opportunity to speak on this matter during questions in the Chamber last week. On the back of that, I received an email from Yvonne O'Rourke on behalf of the Women of Honour expressing their gratitude. The reason I am bringing this up is that it is yet another example of the dignified and respectful way the Women of Honour have carried themselves throughout this harrowing journey and process. I read Yvonne O'Rourke's contribution in The Irish Timesthis morning. I will quote some of her words as it is important that those most affected by the systemic failures in the Defence Forces have their voices heard. These are her words, not mine, as I could not write so well:

We need a statutory inquiry like no other. This inquiry needs to be different from ones that commenced before. I like to think of it as a David and Goliath moment. [ ... ] We need this inquiry to fire a slingshot and bring about the much-needed change and transformation that is required by the Department of Defence in its entirety.

The question remains – will our voices finally be heard and will the silence that so many of us held on to for so many years in the past, due to the crippling shame that the experience of being sexually abused and discriminated against bestowed on us, finally be removed? Is this really a watershed moment? [ ... ]

I believe this is our time; opportunities like this come about once in a lifetime ... This will be a defining moment and be remembered for what it is: a piece of history.

They are powerful words. I again commend the Women of Honour and all the survivors affected by these issues for their bravery and determination in bringing these shocking and deeply concerning issues to light. Opportunities to make systemic changes do not come around too often. We simply must not waste this one.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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Bullying, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, assault and rape - what is hazing if not a form of torture? - are the conditions for women in the Defence Forces, as captured in this report. They are nothing short of medieval. The report by the independent review group has revealed heinous crimes of the very worst kind, many of which may still be happening to this day. The details and magnitude of the findings are shocking and deeply disturbing but as the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre put it, they are not surprising. We cannot say we did not know. The world was made aware of these horrendous experiences 20 years ago by Senator Tom Clonan, yet here we are today finding ourselves looking back on two decades and more of systematic terror. We cannot let history repeat itself. One more incident of abuse cannot be allowed to happen out of purposeful ignorance.

We must not let the damning words of this report remain faceless. Real people, real women, have suffered unimaginable crimes at the hands of real perpetrators who should be considered very real criminals. The women affected must receive redress and those who inflicted those crimes must face the consequences. The members of the Defence Forces have been failed by their own institution, with women bearing the brunt of the abuse. They were let down by a complaints system which reflected a bygone era, was not fit for purpose and perpetuated the pain endured by victims. They were failed by a chain of command which turned a blind eye to an organisation which, as the report states "barely tolerates women" and, at its worst, verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abuses women in its ranks. How can it be claimed by long-standing members of the Defence Forces that they were unaware of these crimes when almost nine out of ten women who responded experienced sexual harassment, with nearly half of those reporting sexual assaults. Ignorance to this degree is inexplicable. Those in command who chose to look away instead of speaking up are complicit in these unspeakable actions.

We heard that complaints about abuse would dash any chances of promotion. Complaining was effectively career ending, and this purposeful suppression of victims establishes the culture of the Defence Forces as one of the most sinister in the history of the State. These behaviours were never addressed. Horrifyingly, they were rewarded.

Earlier, my colleague, Deputy Cairns, raised the question of the leadership of the Defence Forces with the Tánaiste. It is hard to believe that a chief of staff had been completely unaware of this endemic situation despite having a career of almost 40 years in the Defence Forces. This was sheer premeditated ignorance at best and a barefaced untruth at worst. I do not believe it possible that someone so close to this litany of crimes could be unaware of them without purposely looking away. I will and must be able to speak truth to power in this Chamber. Pleading blissful ignorance is not good enough when countless lives have been destroyed over decades and when whispers, and comments that were louder still, were on the lips of anyone relatively close to the situation. We cannot be cagey in our responses. A commitment to, and I make no apologies for saying this, gutting the status quowithin an organisation that allowed this situation to exist over decades must be forthcoming.

I highlight the work of the Women of Honour who bravely stood out against this abuse despite the fear that they would be victimised and their complaints would be ignored. This was the reality in some cases. Without their courage, we might not be in the position we are in now to right the wrongs for future generations. The report thoroughly vindicates the Women of Honour, recommending that a statutory inquiry be established to examine allegations of sexual abuse, harassment and bullying in the Defence Forces, which we must all welcome and work towards with great speed.

If allegations of sexual assault are to be referred to the Garda, as the Tánaiste said and which we all agree with, rather than to internal authorities, it is essential that the Garda incorporate the findings contained in this report and ensure that past mistakes are not repeated. I implore the Government to ensure that these recommendations are implemented without delay and that a timeline be published which details each stage of the inquiry. Survivors must be put at the centre of this discussion.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Tánaiste for bringing this report before the House. All Deputies can only feel shock and dismay at the findings of the report. I refer to the constant belittling of women, the unwillingness to counter bullying, the immense figure of 88% reporting sexual harassment among women, the abuse of power and the contempt for many of the skills women could have brought to the Army. The description of it as a "man's army" summed up much of what seems to have become the norm. It is chilling to see the conclusion that it is believed that "the Defence Forces is unable (or unwilling) to make the changes."

This is an important watershed moment. We can only thank the women for their bravery in pioneering to get this work done. It showed great commitment and determination and they certainly have been vindicated. I also take this opportunity to commend those who put the report together. It has been a very valuable service. The confidential approach they took, involving voluntary submissions done in confidence, with commitments that those would not be shared, a non-adversarial approach and not applying or seeking to apply legal proofs, has been vindicated by this report. Recently, we have had cause to see the dismay of some victims concerning a very legalistic approach taken in other contexts. It is commendable the way in which this work was done. We have an important body of analysis here that needs to be taken to the next stage.

I support the Tánaiste's conclusions regarding what needs to be done. We need a statutory inquiry. We need to move to an external oversight body. We must completely change the complaints mechanism. We need fresh legislation and a real reform of the culture. It seems to me that massive changes must be made. I will be interested to hear the view of the Tánaiste on how an inquiry is to be conducted. I have been a long time around this House. The Tánaiste has been around for a good deal of that time, although not all of it by any means. We have been disappointed by inquiries set up in good faith by successive Governments. They have often been a disappointment to the victims. They have also often led to frustration in terms of what flows from them. They cannot draw conclusions of individual culpability and they work on a particularly narrow approach. Sometimes they are held in camera and this avoids some of the lawyering up. On other occasions, they have been held with lawyers for everyone and they have been interminable, adversarial and difficult. This inquiry deserves some thought regarding how it is going to be designed. Like others, I read about the need for this to be victim focused and victim led. We must also be conscious that anyone accused has rights as well and how this aspect is going to be handled will present us with real challenges. Many people want this to be done quickly. This raises questions about what the structure in this regard will be. Will people be represented? If people are accused, will they have lawyers cross-examining people who are presenting? I would be interested to hear the Tánaiste's views on how this inquiry can best be structured. This process will probably need some time and require some consultation with the victims concerned. We must also ensure, however, that whatever we do will lead to the sort of change we want to see.

Above all, we cannot afford to wait on the quite complicated investigative work and the bringing forward of new legislation to start the reform of the culture within the Defence Forces. The question arises as to what is to be done with the immediate action group that was set up within the Army. It seems to have done some positive work, but it clearly did not achieve what it had hoped to within the time available. What structure, from today, can lead to better approaches being taken while we await the more detailed legislative framework for an external oversight body and a detailed inquiry?

It seems to me that whatever is done now will need to go well beyond an action group composed of internal military staff. We must bring in external expertise. We need to look at what is international best practice and how cultures can be developed internally. That would ensure that at least, before the external oversight body is established, we will have a real sense of momentum and reform going on. We cannot forget that we owe a huge debt of service to our Army for the work it has done. We must continue to attract people into the Defence Forces. We have to ensure there is not widespread demoralisation in the Army as a result of these shocking findings so that reform can be conducted from now on. This is the delicate balance the Tánaiste must try to strike.

I commend the Tánaiste on the work he has done. I also commend those who have been brave and come forward. The Tánaiste is on the right track. However, there must be some swift changes in the Army in order that when the external oversight body, the investigation and the new legal framework emerge, we will be able to see that the Army is already well on the road towards adopting best international practice and that we will never again see the sort of abuse of power, the belittlement, the sexual harassment and the ignoring of the needs of mothers and others within their workplace.

These things just have to be stamped out.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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I am deeply grateful I am to the Women of Honour, whom I welcome to the Public Gallery, and to all the women who came forward to give first-hand accounts of their experiences, both members and former members. I too want to recognise Katie Hannon. We should not be in a position where we have to wait for RTÉ to do a "Prime Time Investigates" programme before we react to some of this horrific stuff. Time and time again, we find that we wait and wait until something appears on RTÉ but if Katie Hannon and her team had not done what they did, we would not be here today. I also want to acknowledge Senator Tom Clonan and the work he did in his report. All right-minded people are disgusted and appalled to learn what a toxic and unsafe an environment the Defence Forces are for too many women. There is bullying, harassment, discrimination, the sexual harassment of women, and worse than that. There is a statement in the report that women are viewed as occupying a low status in the Defence Forces. It is 2023. If we were looking back to something in 1723 and we saw this we might say, "My goodness, those times were awful", but this is in 2023. Cadets can be vulnerable and inexperienced and this can result in their being targeted by predatory older members who exploit such traits. This is absolutely appalling. Does the Minister accept the collapse of middle management played a significant role, due to the lack of oversight? Is it true that there are 600 plus non-commissioned officer vacancies at the moment? That in itself tells a story.

The report referred to women and the lower ranks and how those who challenged were also at risk. That is really worrying. The report cited making a complaint as being career ending, and outlined people's experiences of intimidation and acts of retaliation when they did make a complaint. It is absolutely the worst case of power and control with the sole aim of discrediting the complainant's reputation. Have we learned nothing from Maurice McCabe and others? There is a culture of fear and control. Where is the accountability? Where are the sanctions? Where is the remorse? I do not see any of these but I hope we will see them in the future, with sufficient resources to investigate and to adjudicate complaints to address the current situation, and that criminal acts be referred to An Garda Síochána. I spoke to Senator Gerard Craughwell who is in the Public Gallery earlier. He was a proud member of the Defence Forces. He summed it up quite well when he said to find them, to root them out, and to hold them to account. The vast majority of people who wear a uniform are proud to serve and really good and my thoughts are with them and their families as well, as they have to bear this as well and to look at where they proudly served. We have to have a statutory inquiry but it is important to acknowledge what my colleague Deputy Funchion said around the mother and baby homes. In the terms of reference the women themselves must be at the centre and they must be listened to right from the beginning to get those terms of reference right and to make sure their voices are heard and that this never happens again. We have an opportunity here to create a Defence Forces that everybody can be proud of and so this can never, ever happen again. I do not believe that things can never happen again unless people are held accountable for the behaviours of the past.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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We now move to the People Before Profit slot, but as there is no speaker present we will move on to the Government slot.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Women of Honour as well. I echo the sentiments of my colleagues and commend those who are engaged in this process. Their persistence and determination is an inspiration to us all. The publication of this report is a step in the right direction but it makes for harrowing and distressing reading. As Sinn Féin spokesperson for older people I am privileged to speak up for those who have no voice and who are locked out and downtrodden. It should go without saying that abuse and harassment of any kind are totally unacceptable in any workplace and we as a society must show zero tolerance towards it. Sexual abuse and harassment in the workplace is utterly terrible and leaves survivors feeling alone and vulnerable. Survivors were not believed or protected, and those responsible were not adequately investigated and removed from positions of power. Those who reported these incidents had their trauma and harassment compounded by the systems and power structures in place in the Defence Forces. Those responsible were allowed to retraumatise and revictimise survivors with impunity; not only that but many of these perpetrators were actually promoted. It beggars belief that people would be rewarded after committing such acts. We as elected representatives must do the right thing by the men and women of the Defence Forces who find themselves the targets of abuse and harassment. We must safeguard their safety and wellbeing as they safeguard ours. Despite the contents of this report, most of the men and women who serve in the Defence Forces are of the highest moral quality and serve with distinction and utmost honour. All Defence Forces personnel should be treated equally, with dignity and respect at work.

The Minister needs to engage actively on this and implement the steps outlined in this report as a matter of the utmost urgency. Otherwise the damage done will simply be beyond repair. I know of Deputies and other representatives within my constituency who have the ear of the Government and who have not delivered on a timely solution to the terrible treatment of our Defence Forces personnel. Need I remind the Minister of the brave whistleblower who bought all of this to light, in particular the ongoing depraved sexual abuse in the Curragh Camp? We are all aware of the courageous whistleblower who gathered information going back decades and brought this matter to light. It has been two years since I brought this information forward to the Minister's predecessor, Deputy Simon Coveney, and called for the establishment of an inquiry into the allegations of systematic sexual abuse and the covering up of sexual abuse. I call for a full statutory inquiry into the allegations of abuse, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and reprisals following engagement with the internal system.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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We now move on to the Regional Group. Deputies Tóibín and Berry sharing time.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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I would like to welcome the Women of Honour to the Public Gallery. I was proud to raise the case of the Women of Honour for the first time in the Dáil more than 18 months ago. I was also proud to bring them to the AV room so they could make a presentation to other Deputies about their experience.

The way that these women and men were treated by the State was absolutely horrendous. It was clear to me that I had a responsibility to ensure the Government initiated some kind of response. The State owes these women a debt of gratitude for their courageous campaign to shine a light on the litany of shocking abuses within the Defence Forces.

The Women of Honour are women who sought to work in the service of the State. They put their lives on the line for us and, shockingly, their service was met by assault, rape, abuse, bullying and discrimination. The people who were responsible for these actions went about their careers untouched. We need to ensure that we do right by these women. The first thing required is a commitment from the Tánaiste that the terms of reference that will underpin the promised independent statutory inquiry will be developed in full agreement with the Women of Honour. Anything less would be a continuation of the injustices they have experienced in the past. I ask the Tánaiste to make that commitment. Many times in this State we have heard strong words, as we have today, that have not been followed up with action. I refer to the apology that was made to the women who suffered under CervicalCheck. They were told that no woman would ever again have to go to court to achieve justice and yet, three years after that apology, the courts are full of women seeking that justice. That is an important point.

The shocking way these women were treated also poses some critical questions about senior Army management, the Department and previous Ministers for Defence. The report published this week states that the Defence Forces are not currently a safe place to work. How many other organisations in the country where such a situation existed would not already have serious accountability mechanisms in place? Would there not be resignations in any other organisation in the country if that were the case? Have these types of wrongdoing been brought to light in other organisations in the country without any consequent resignations? The positions of many in the general staff are untenable as a result of what has happened. This is not the first time that these situations have been brought to light. There have been protected disclosures and cases have been brought before the Workplace Relations Commission, yet senior management and the general staff have not acted. The Department and successive Minister for Defence have not acted. That must change now.

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on the independent review group report regarding misconduct in our armed forces. I welcome the Women of Honour group to the Public Gallery. I also welcome veterans of the Defence Forces from Kildare.

I welcome the publication of the report and its recommendations. Two commitments in the Tánaiste's opening statement jumped out. The first is the need for a statutory inquiry. There is absolutely such a need. It must be judge-led and have the power of compellability. We need to move from this scoping exercise to more of a fact-finding basis. That is a step in the right direction. The second was the accountability piece and the Tánaiste's commitment to an external oversight body. That is a very good idea. Any transparent, open, mature and rational organisation should welcome external oversight. That is the way it should be.

What have I heard over the past 48 hours? My phone has been on fire because I have received so many phone calls. People are in disbelief. There is a state of collective shock. People are very disturbed and upset. They feel hugely let down. Many people are saying they do not recognise the organisation that is being described and that the description does not accord with their experience. They are devastated as a result of what has happened.

I take the Tánaiste's point about cultural change and agree with it. I will try to help by putting two points across. There are a couple of underlying causes of a need for change in the Defence Forces. The first is that our armed forces are hypersensitive to criticism. That is absolutely the case. I have felt that dissent is almost regarded as unpatriotic or worse, that it is a manifestation of ill-discipline. When I came here after 23 years in the armed forces, the first job I had to learn and the first skill I had to develop was the ability to take criticism without taking offence. If we can change one thing in the Defence Forces, it should be to remove people's hypersensitivity to criticism. The second point is that the Defence Forces are obsessed with image. Everything has to be perfect. The Tánaiste has seen guards of honour. Everything has to be perfect and fine. They are obsessed with excellence, which is important, but because of the obsession with image, the Defence Forces take complaints very poorly. Complaints should be embraced and not resisted.

I am heartened and encouraged by what I have heard in the Chamber. I was expecting all military people to be tarred with the same brush but the opposite has happened. Every contributor has been discerning. They have said that the vast majority of people in the military are good quality people but a significant minority misbehave or worse, engage in criminal activity. Those people must be dismissed and their behaviour stamped out.

I welcome the commitment to a statutory inquiry. I have one suggestion. I know the Garda Commissioner has the means and legal authority to suspend somebody on full pay provided there is enough evidence and without prejudice to any investigation. The Chief of Staff does not have that same power. Perhaps during his wrap-up, the Tánaiste will comment on whether he thinks it would be appropriate to grant the Chief of Staff such a power of suspension where evidence is available without prejudicing an inquiry.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I have listened carefully to the debate and must say that I am appalled at the disgraceful disclosures. I am appalled that these incidents ever happened at all and that it has taken so many years to deal with them. That teaches all of us to be more alert to things that are brought to our attention when people complain about bullying, controlling behaviour or abuse in any shape or form. There is a need to deal with such complaints resolutely and quickly because the longer that behaviour is allowed to go on, the greater the chances that it will continue unabated.

I compliment the Tánaiste for resolutely dealing with this matter now. I hope there will be a statutory inquiry that entails everything that is required. Independence is the most important thing. Nobody who had any influence in allowing the situation to continue over a number of years should have any influence in the inquiry. That is a crucial element of inquiries, as we know from experience.

People are rightly appalled. We should recognise that it is not the only institution of the State where abuses, bullying, intimidation and controlling behaviour take place on a regular basis. There are many such institutions, as we know. We are gradually coming to deal with them. If we do not deal resolutely with these issues and do not examine the statements that are brought to our attention by whomsoever it may be, we will be failing in our duties to do the jobs we have to do.

I compliment the Women of Honour and all associated with the campaign, including our colleague in the other House, Senator Clonan, for bringing this matter to the attention of the public. Sadly, the Senator had to wait a long time for the appropriate action to take place.

We should be proud of our Defence Forces. They fulfil an important role. High standards have to apply. I compliment them for all the work they have done over the years at home and abroad, and for the way they have risked and given their lives in the good cause of defending their own country or another country. Having visited Defence Forces personnel at many locations over many years, I have to say we owe them a great debt.

It is appropriate that anything untoward happening behind closed doors should be brought to public attention and dealt with as resolutely as befits the situation.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the publication of the report of the independent review group into the Defence Forces. I am grateful for the opportunity to examine its findings. This watershed report makes for stark reading and raises the most profound issues in our Defence Forces. While the report correctly acknowledges the high regard in which the Defence Forces are held, as has been acknowledged throughout this afternoon, it nonetheless signals the critical need for fundamental and immediate cultural change, which goes to the very heart of issues relating to dignity and mutual respect. Bullying, misogynistic behaviour, assault and sexual misconduct are simply unacceptable.

Established at the beginning of last year to examine the issues I just raised, a litany of serious allegations were made. I compliment the chairperson and her team who have performed a vital service. In welcoming them to the Gallery this afternoon, I pay tribute to the Women of Honour, and men and women of honour, who have done so much to raise awareness of these issues. They formed a battalion of bravery. I also single out RTÉ’s Katie Hannon for her efforts in bring this issue to public prominence in September 2021. I also acknowledge Senator Clonan, a former member of the Defence Forces, who raised similar concerns in the past. It is regrettable that it took so long for the truth to come to the fore.

I welcome confirmation from the Tánaiste that there will be a full independent inquiry into the issues raised. This is clearly necessary. I also welcome the Tánaiste’s commitment, as Minister for Defence, that he will be moving to progress a comprehensive programme of immediate actions to address the extremely serious shortcomings identified in the report. The Tánaiste has clearly listened to the Women of Honour, and others in the Defence Forces. He believes them and I welcome his actions to date.

The Defence Forces were officially established almost 100 years ago in 1924. Of course, they can trace their history back further, to the Irish Volunteers founded in 1913. They were involved in the Easter Rising and the War of Independence. Generations of members of the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, and Reserve Defence Force have served with distinction at home and abroad. Some made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. We are proud of the men and women who serve our country and we are grateful for their service.

However, the independent review group has found there are significant systemic issues in our Defence Forces. It found there is a toxic culture relating to women, dignity and respect. Generations of people joined the Defence Forces, many from the same families. They joined in good faith to serve our country. It is not acceptable that they would be subjected to such a toxic culture. Just as military tactics and strategy evolve over time, these too must change to ensure they are fit for purpose. The toxic culture in our Defence Forces must also change. It is not acceptable. This is a watershed moment. I would like to think that we will see change quickly. There can be no going back from this point. I hope the senior leadership in the Defence Forces appreciates the necessity and urgency to change and implements that change urgently.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I am sure the Women of Honour and the good members of the Army would forgive me for not wasting time on praise because I have only five minutes on a report with 100 pages, along with 12 appendices running to 294 pages. I have read the 100 pages but have not read all the appendices yet.

This comes on top of the suffering and pain of numerous women and men who were ignored when they made complaints over a long period of time. Over 18 months ago, the Women of Honour appeared on the documentary made by Katie Hannon. Wherever we were as women, we stood silent in utter disbelief and shock and we shared the pain as best we could at what we were hearing. It has taken quite some time to get the report, which the Tánaiste has had for some weeks. I welcome that he has published it.

What does it tell us? It tells us too much for me to go through in five minutes. Over 15 headings it makes 13 recommendations. The Tánaiste has agreed to progress some of those immediately, including the independent judicial process. The establishment of a restorative justice process has not been mentioned. I am not 100% sure about that and I would like the Tánaiste to respond on it. As Deputy Clarke mentioned, page 7 gives a taste of what is coming in defining "tubbing", "mobbing" and "beasting". Tubbing is defined as "the placing of an individual in a barrel, which may contain any combination of chemicals, oil, airplane fuel, deceased animal carcasses, or other substances, for the purposes of hazing or punishment". That is just explaining some of the things that were done.

I have heard the term, "watershed moment" mentioned. What does that mean? Are we having a watershed moment now because of this report? Why did we not have a watershed moment before this? Let us look back. In 2000 there was research by Tom Clonan, now a Senator. He is a very brave man who came forward and, foolishly by his own admission, thought things had improved. He came back publicly to say he was misled. We had the report by Dr. Eileen Doyle in 2002, the report by the expert advisory group. There was no watershed moment there. It was followed by three reports in 2004, 2008 and 2014 by the independent monitoring group on foot of the 2002 expert group. What happened to those? These are questions for the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and the various Ministers. What happened? The independent monitoring group was disbanded. Three monkeys come to mind: hear no evil; see no evil; speak no evil. I take that back but it comes to mind. Why did we disband the independent monitoring group? We then had the documentary in September 2021.

The report is welcome and very clearly articulates the sexist, toxic and dangerous culture within the Defence Forces. In case there is any doubt, that continues today. The former judge, Ms Justice O'Hanlon, has spoken about the enduring nature of issues around unacceptable behaviour - not historical but ongoing.

We have had an utter failure to learn and then to top it all I have press release here stating the Chief of Staff has stated he had been unaware of abuse and bullying in the Defence Forces. It beggars belief. It is simply not credible and if he did not know about it, that is not credible either. Nothing is credible about the report from this man, given the history that we hear. I am simply taking 23 years of history based on the courage of those who came forward.

I welcome that the Government is accepting the recommendations and the Tánaiste might confirm that means all of them.

In the short time I have left I will cover some of the quotes that stand out. One states, "To be ‘female’ is to be considered an object rather than a full human being." We should remember that the Commission on the Defence Forces failed to mention any of this. It made a short reference to it but did not take it into account when looking at retention problems or any of the problems the Defence Forces are facing. Another states, "The perception of interviewees was that the Defence Forces is more concerned about what effect a sanction might have on the career of the alleged perpetrator" and a further one states, "Women are viewed as occupying a low status in the Defence Forces." It stated that there was no safe environment for men or women. Another one states:

Apart from the horrendous nature of the alleged rapes and sexual assaults suffered and described in great detail [in this report], what happened afterwards is of equal concern. Instead of delivering a proper, modern, streamlined and skilled response to the complainant, the individual was often told to bury the complaint, or they were asked whether they seriously wanted to complain formally.

This has continued to today. In further quotations, "Flexibility and alternative thinking is suspect." and "the Defence Forces’ values are undermined by the perception that the senior ranks believe the law does not apply to them". Where did we hear that before? The Garda Síochána comes to mind. The law does not apply to them. I emphasise that I am not talking about gardaí on the ground. Moreover, "Pregnancy is described as being career ending". Can we imagine that? Complaints were described as "career ending" and "The Defence Forces’ focus seems to have been on maintaining a certain image and controlling the narrative."

I finish by mentioning the impacts of the unacceptable behaviour. My time is up and I cannot go into it. There was everything from suicide to complete breakdown as a result not just of the abuse but the manner in which it was dealt with. I ask the Tánaiste to outline a timeline for implementation of the recommendations. I ask to give a commitment that the Women of Honour will be an integral part of preparing the terms of reference for the statutory inquiry, which should have taken place a year ago, but we are going with it now. We need absolute clarity so that those of us in the Dáil are not constantly tabling questions, which is our job, constantly as we did regarding this report as to when is it going to be published, where is it in the Cabinet and so on.

Let us have clear lines of communication. Thank you for your forbearance, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Before calling the Tánaiste, could I say that, on a couple of occasions today, the current and previous Chiefs of Staff have been referred to very specifically. I fully accept the report produced presents very real challenges to the current and former Chiefs of Staff. That said, it does not confer on any of us the right to question, without evidence, the integrity or veracity of any statements made by the aforementioned. I would caution against any further comments to that effect.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I will certainly restate that I have the most serious concerns about the implications of what was said or reported in that statement.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not want to take issue with Deputy Connolly but I am just conscious of natural justice. We are dealing here with a report that in so many respects is utterly damning, but to identify particular individuals and to visit questions as to the credibility of those individuals is probably not fair or in accordance with natural justice.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions to this debate. I have taken careful note of all that has been said. One of the fundamental rationales for a statutory inquiry, which would be a fact-finding statutory inquiry, is to get full compellability and full contribution in terms of everybody's perspective, and not just perspective but role. At the very outset I made it very clear in my opening contribution that the Department of Defence would be part of that inquiry and that it would be part of the terms of reference.

There have been a lot of insightful contributions. I, too, pay tribute to Senator Tom Clonan and his work. The independent monitoring group was established.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It was disbanded.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I think there were three of them, but Deputy Connolly mentioned that it was disbanded. That is not quite-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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No, I said they were established and disbanded.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not interrupt Deputy Connolly.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I beg your pardon, but-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Could I just explain and give the context before people jump to conclusions and start making assertions? It is clear the independent monitoring group was not effective.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Why not?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Of course it was not. This will all be before the inquiry. It clearly was not effective.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It was.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No, it was not. That is the point. I would argue that Deputy Connolly has got it wrong on that front. I just want to make that point to her. Hence we had the independent review and the scoping inquiry.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Remarks should be made through the Chair.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I beg your pardon, a Cheann Comhairle.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have discussed this with officials.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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If we could have the remarks through the Chair, then we would not get involved in a one-to-one debate.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I beg your pardon, a Cheann Comhairle.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Clearly something more was required. There was the documentary. There have been many watershed moments in history globally and nationally. In my view, clearly there was not the same cut-through as there has been now with the "Documentary on One" and the Katie Hannon documentary and the role of the Women of Honour in that regard. When I say cut-through I mean the very significant raising of the public consciousness and awareness about this which has led to significant numbers of people coming forward to the scoping inquiry that was established and the independent review group. That was important in terms of the safety of current members of the workforce. I think the review group has performed a valuable service. I accept that it has meant it will be a year and a bit before we have a statutory inquiry from the inception of the independent review group, but it has done very valuable work which I think can now inform current safety in the workplace within the Defence Forces.

What is interesting is the number of people who have come forward to an independent group who would not have come forward in previous times in the same volume. As Deputy Berry and others have said, the dynamic of the command and control structure is one that did not lend itself to people coming forward to share their experiences. Deputy Brendan Smith referred to the mantra of never complain, never explain. He was talking to former members he knew. I am talking to serving members at the moment who still have this tremendous loyalty to the Defence Forces. I have met them over time. They question themselves and they almost blame themselves for what happened to them. Looking in from the outside, it must be asked how they could have done anything. They know this too but they still want reform. They are still committed to the Defence Forces. What goes to the heart of this is the command and control structure.

Deputy Berry is correct about the search for excellence. I have very serious issues about the training system. I am thinking through some of this as well. It is almost as if training is considered to be a survival operation. It seems to me that people survive the training. It is not about helping people to get to a certain level. If people do not make it, it means they are not up to it. I might be wrong but that is my sense of it. A lot began with the inductions. That culture has to change. The comment about the obsession with excellence or image is true and I think that needs to change. We need to create a new mechanism because members of the forces did not come into the clinics of public representatives down through the years because they were not allowed to. Their wives or partners might have come in at various times when there were issues, but it was considered a breach for the members to come. All that has to change.

I will be honest that I do not have the precise formula here, but mechanisms and forums have to be developed where people can engage. No one should lose a night's sleep over the fact that there could be a number of soldiers or members of the Air Corps or Navy talking to public representatives. I know it all has to be managed but it is seen as dissent, meaning indiscipline, or that one is breaking rank. The culture has to change. Today, an 18-year-old or 19-year-old joining the Defence Forces should be welcomed, helped and supported to get through the recruitment process. It should not be an ordeal or an endurance test, which I venture it is for many. I have read Karina Molloy's book. Training keeps coming up time and again. Every course seems to be based on how much a person can take. What is a person's mettle? When will they crack? In my view, all that has to change. I am really going to go at this, at the whole training culture. People need to free up a bit. It seems to me they need to be at ease a bit more often than they are in terms of the public manifestations of the Defence Forces.

Deputy Bruton made some very insightful points about the inquiry. He has been honest in what he said. What I mean by that is the design of the inquiry is very important. I will consult all of the groups: current members, the Women of Honour, Men and Women of Honour, the Defence Women's Network, and the representative bodies within the service. The design of the inquiry is important, as are the time limits. It cannot go on forever.

Parallel with that, I must stress that we must get moving on reform. We cannot wait for the inquiry itself. We have very important work to do. The restorative piece is being looked at. We are engaging with personnel who have expertise in the area of restorative justice. The report did mention Australia but there is not huge international experience of restorative processes. The experiences in New Zealand and Australia were mentioned and we are going to explore them. The statutory inquiry comes first but parallel with that we will be working on restorative processes.

We are committed to implementing all of the recommendations. They may be in different formats. I envisage talking to organisations like the National Suicide Foundation, those with specific expertise in suicide, to go through that aspect of the report of the independent review group. In respect of air accidents, we will have separate agencies with expertise to go through that, although some cases are in litigation at the moment and in the courts. We will get people external to the Defence Forces to look at medical boarding and so forth. An independent external complaints mechanism is essential so that people can complain without feeling someone is looking over their shoulder or that this is a career-ending move.

I have met with women in order to discuss issues to do with maternity and motherhood. We do not have women at very senior levels within the Defence Forces because if they become pregnant, they cannot do a nine-month course in the Curragh or whatever. The regime in that regard is hard to credit in the modern era when we have online and blended learning and so many ways to facilitate tuition and learning. That has been the reality. We need women to be appointed to senior ranks within our Defence Forces fairly quickly. I am exploring mechanisms to do that and balance the scales in terms of seniority, gender and so forth. That is absolutely required. I am very clear about that. The inquiry will go through all aspects in terms of senior management, the Department and so forth.

Some groups will come forward and state that this is about 600 vacancies or pay and conditions; it is not. We have to make up our minds about this. It is about culture. There is no excuse for this behaviour. The great elephant in the room about recruitment and retention is this. We have to deal with pay, and we have improved basic pay. We have to do other stuff, including in the context of the organisation of working time directive. We will be doing more, but let us not lose focus when it comes to what is fundamentally wrong here, namely, the culture that is prevalent throughout the Defence Forces. Some individuals may not even realise the type of behaviour in which they are engaged and so on. We cannot allow ourselves to move to other matters when the focus has to be that, no matter what the resources are, there is no excuse for any of this behaviour. The Defence Forces have to commit to the 21st century when it comes to issues like gender equality, parity of esteem, respect, dignity of the human being, motherhood, pregnancy - all of it. What happens in any other workplace should be the same in our Defence Forces - end of. I do not want any more resistance. People go on about how the organisation of working time directive will do this, that and the other, but it simply has to happen. It is my job, as Minister, to drive this and make sure it happens. I look forward to co-operation from everybody in the House in trying to get this done.