Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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315. To ask the Minister for Defence the steps he will take to immediately implement the findings of the investigation, decisions, and recommendations of the Defence Forces Ombudsman in respect of an officer (details supplied) in County Westmeath who has suffered significant financial loss and stress as a result of the administrative effort involved in this case, in consequence of which error, inter alia, he had to retire prematurely from the Defence Forces, resulting in a significant loss to pay, and gratuity and continuous loss of pension rights going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39378/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established as an independent statutory office, under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. The Ombudsman has full independence and autonomy in the discharge of his statutory functions. The function of the Ombudsman 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 2004 Act provides that when the Ombudsman carries out an investigation under the Act the Ombudsman may make a recommendation to the Minister in relation to that investigation. It is then a matter for the Minister to make a determination in relation to that recommendation.

I have received the Ombudsman’s final report on the case in question and the issues raised in the report are under consideration. I expect to be in a position to make a determination in relation to the Ombudsman’s findings and recommendations on the case shortly.