Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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21. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to reform the office of the Ombudsman of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20054/14]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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23. To ask the Minister for Defence his views regarding the operation of the Ombudsman of the Defence Forces; and his views on whether this is a model which could be used by other State agencies. [20061/14]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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25. To ask the Minister for Defence if he met with the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces this month as planned; and if he will provide an update on the meeting. [20050/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 23 and 25 together.

I met with the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, Mr. Patrick Anthony McCourt on 16 April 2014 and discussed the caseload currently going through his office in addition to other general matters of interest. I was also updated on progress made to date on the publication of the 2012 and 2013 annual reports of the Ombudsman. Due to particular circumstances, relating to High Court proceedings arising during 2013, the Annual Report for 2012 of the ODF has not yet been published. The Ombudsman indicated that the 2012 report will be available by the end of June 2014 and the 2013 report will be published as soon as possible thereafter.

There are no plans at present for changes to the operation of the office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. The office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is well established. A number of administrative and systemic issues identified by the Ombudsman have been addressed by Defence management. This has contributed to improvements in procedures and policies within the Defence Forces. I am satisfied that the current system is working well.

The Ombudsman has full independence and autonomy in the discharge of his statutory functions. The primary role of the Ombudsman, which is provided for in the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004, is to provide an independent appeals process for members of the Defence Forces. Such appeals arise where a complaint has been processed through the internal Defence Forces “Redress of Wrongs” process but the complainant remains dissatisfied, either with the outcome, or with the manner in which the complaint was handled. The 2004 Act also provides that, subject to certain conditions, the Ombudsman may accept complaints directly from former members of the Defence Forces.