David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 456: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of reports that he has received from the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces to date; the action that he has taken on foot of these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35471/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004.

On the 19th September 2005, Ms. Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn SC was appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Government, as the first Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. Her term of office was extended for a further three years from 19th September 2008.

The function of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is to act as the ultimate point of appeal for, and administrative investigation into, complaints made by members (and former members) of the Defence Forces against another member (or former member) of the Defence Forces, or against a civil servant of the Department of Defence. The Ombudsman for the Defence Forces may investigate a complaint in respect of an action or decision, which may have adversely affected the complainant personally. The action or decision complained of must have occurred no earlier than the 1st December 2005.

To date, the office of the Ombudsman has sent me some seventy four Final Reports (74) reports. In addition, the Ombudsman has sent me fifteen (15) Preliminary Views on cases for which the Final Report has not yet issued. I have either responded to or am in the process of responding to the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces in respect of each of the Final reports. The Minister for Defence is obliged to inform the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces of the measures taken or proposed in response to her recommendation in each report.

The Ombudsman's recommendations in these reports cover issues specific to the case in question including proposals for redress where the Ombudsman has found that a person has been wronged. The reports may also include systemic matters that the Ombudsman has identified in her investigation of the case. In arriving at my determination on each case I take careful account of all of the Ombudsman's recommendations. I also take into account the specific and unique requirements of the Defence Forces organisation. I refer recommendations of a systemic nature to the appropriate Branches of my Department and of the Defence Forces for consideration in their ongoing development of best practice human resource management.

The input of the Ombudsman has already assisted the Defence Forces in the revision of a number of HR procedures, including the selection processes for career courses and overseas service. The recommendations in the Ombudsman's reports to me have also impacted on the revision of selection processes for promotion. A new version of the promotional selection system for enlisted personnel is currently being progressed with the Representative Associations through the Conciliation and Arbitration scheme.