Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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95. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reports that he has received from the Independent Review Group into allegations of sexual harassment in the Defence Forces; his views on whether the group should have the power to compel witnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48966/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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96. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the last time he met with a group (details supplied). [48905/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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102. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the draft review report pursuant to the terms the independent review to examine the effectiveness of the policies, systems and procedures in place for dealing with bullying, harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual assault in the Defence Forces, which was to be provided to him within six months; his plans to publish the draft review report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48951/22]

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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114. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has received the interim report from the Independent Review Group into allegations of sexual harassment in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48967/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 96, 102 and 114 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, I am committed to ensuring that every member of the Defence Forces can carry out their duties in a workplace underpinned by dignity and equality. The Judge-led Independent Review Group, established last January by me, following Government approval, is examining the systems, policies and procedures for dealing with issues relating to bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the Defence Forces.

This Review is well underway and is a necessary and critical first step to address the need for a safe work environment for serving members with zero-tolerance for such unacceptable behaviour. The serving members of the Defence Forces expect nothing less.

I wish to add that the work of the Independent Review Group is entirely independent in keeping with the Terms of Reference. The Group have full independence and autonomy to undertake its body of work, under its Chair, Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Terms of Reference provide that it is open to the Review Group to conduct its business through oral and/or written engagement on a group basis and/or individual basis. The Review will include the receipt of the views and experiences from both current and former Defence Forces personnel of workplace incidents of unacceptable behaviour. I wish to underline that the sharing of such views and experiences by interviewees is entirely voluntary and treated in confidence.

I have received six updates from the Independent Review Group including when they asked for a 4th member to assist in completing their work. This request was approved. In line also with the Terms of the Review, I have also been briefed via an Interim Report and at the request of the Group, this will not be published, as its work is not complete.

I wish to add that the Terms of Reference for the Review are wide-ranging and provide that Government may consider further work on receipt of the Independent Review findings. I’m eager to have this work concluded. The final report which is to be presented to me at the end of the year, will be brought to Government, before being published.

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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97. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when a mechanism will be agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to create the additional military appointments necessary to implement the High-Level Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49051/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In July Government approval was given for a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission. The recent Budget for 2023 included an increase of €67m over the 2022 budget for Defence. This includes an almost 25% increase in Capital funding and demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, agile military force, capable of responding to increasingly complex security threats.

The move to LOA2 will require an additional 2,000 personnel (civil and military) over and above the current establishment of 9,500. Work has already commenced on this with the recently announced recruitment campaign, ‘BE MORE’.

The establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs with the priority objective of developing a regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force is included in the High Level Action Plan (HLAP) which was also approved by Government.

As a first step, in order to provide momentum and credibility to the HR and cultural change process, my officials and military management are progressing, as a matter of priority, an open recruitment process to fill a number of new positions including two civilian posts of Head of Transformation and Head of Strategic HR to drive the transformation and cultural change that is urgently required within the Defence Forces. Work on this is currently underway and sanction for these two posts has recently been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This will be followed by further engagement on the actions outlined in the HLAP.