Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Fáiltím roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank Senator Kyne for taking over the Chair to allow me the opportunity to contribute to this debate. It is welcome that we have established a tribunal of inquiry to investigate abuse in the Defence Forces, including exposure to hazardous chemicals, because this is long-awaited and overdue. I welcome our guests to the Chamber. It is regrettable, however, that it has taken so long for us to get to this point. We are a couple of years down the line now, but it is welcome that the Government is finally moving forward with the establishment of the tribunal, even though survivors view the proposed terms of reference, as others have said, as inadequate and potentially exclusionary.

There has been perceived poor communication and a perceived reluctance to address survivors' concerns in the process undertaken to get us to this point. This distrust has been exacerbated by the presentation of terms of reference to the Cabinet when negotiations were understood by the survivors to be still ongoing. Survivors' groups, such as the Women of Honour and the Defence Forces Justice Alliance, have played a crucial role in bringing these allegations to light. As others have said, they are to be commended on their bravery in putting themselves, and their families and friends, out into the public domain. That is no small task. It is unfortunate sometimes that people in this State must go public to get justice and to get the attention they deserve, such as in exposing the abuse suffered in our Defence Forces. Others have outlined that horrific abuse. It is a stain on our society that this was going on in our Defence Forces, and, as Senator Clonan said, has been going on for so long and with the knowledge existing that it has been going on. I also commend Katie Hannon on her very professional and sensitive reporting of this issue. All of us who listened to that RTÉ show were stopped in our tracks. She is to be commended as well on how she handled that report.

Sinn Féin tried to amend the terms of reference in the Dáil to better reflect survivors' concerns. Those amendments were rejected, which is again regrettable. Issues arise sometimes that are above politics, when the Opposition tries to work constructively with the Government to reflect on and ensure the process is victim-centred. We did that in good faith, and it is regrettable, therefore, that those amendments were not accepted. As I said, however, it is welcome that we are going to have this tribunal of inquiry. I ask the Minister of State that specific attention be paid as well to the Air Corps members who were exposed to hazardous chemicals, many of whom were children at the time. Their parents entrusted their care to the State and it failed them in that duty. The tribunal must thoroughly investigate the health impacts experienced by these survivors and their families. It must move beyond merely evaluating the adequacy of the complaints process. We need a statutory inquiry to examine the health impacts endured by these survivors and their families.

I will keep my comments brief because I am conscious other people wish to contribute to this debate and it is important that people have their say. I conclude by saying that addressing these issues is crucial for fostering a positive experience for the members of the Defence Forces.It goes to the heart of the organisation's success. The tribunal, if it is conducted properly, can serve as a catalyst for the change we very much need in the institution. It is essential to listen to the concerns of survivors and ensure their meaningful participation in the inquiry process to achieve justice and accountability. It is not only in the interests of the people who have come forward so bravely but also in the public interest that we have full participation in the inquiry process and full investigation of everything that went on.