Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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19. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if outstanding administrative and systemic reforms recommended by the Defence Forces Ombudsman have been audited; if so, the most recent date on which they were audited; and the number and percentage of reforms the audit found were still outstanding. [36105/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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20. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of recommendations made by the Defence Forces Ombudsman in complaint cases which were not implemented in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [36106/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.

Since 2013, my Department provides the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces with a quarterly progress report on outstanding systemic issues highlighted by the Ombudsman in his or her final reports.

The most recent of these was prepared in October 2017 for discussion with the Office of the Defence Forces Ombudsman and at that time the implementation of nine recommendations was ongoing. The previous Ombudsman's term of office expired on 6th November 2017 and a new Ombudsman took up office on the 6th July, 2018.  Accordingly, no quarterly reports were prepared in the intervening period and this process will be reconvened with a progress report to be prepared for discussion in October.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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21. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if recommendations made by the Defence Forces Ombudsman following its adjudication on a complaint are binding; and if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36107/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the provisions of the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 and provides both serving and former members of the Defence Forces with an impartial and independent review of their grievances. Under the provisions of the Act, the Ombudsman may conduct an independent investigation into an action that is the subject of a complaint and then, following deliberation on the matter, send a statement in writing of the results to the Minister and all persons concerned with the complaint and also to any other person to whom he or she considers appropriate.

Under section 7(3) of the Act, where the Ombudsman finds that the action complained of adversely affected the Complainant, he or she may make recommendations to the Minister:

a) that further action is required

b) that measures or specified measures be taken to remedy, mitigate or alter the adverse effect of the action, or

c) that the reasons for taking the action be given

While there is no provision within the Act of 2004 whereby the recommendations are legally binding, the recommendations of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces are given full consideration.