Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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25. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has met or is intending to meet with a group (details supplied) since assuming office as Minister. [5153/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully committed to ensuring that every member of the Defence Forces has the right to undertake their duties in a safe environment underpinned by dignity and equality and by a culture of zero-tolerance for any kind of bullying, discrimination, harassment or sexual abuse. That is an absolute priority.

The Judge-led Independent Review Group, established last January by Government, 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 as well as the prevailing workplace culture. 

I wish to commend the courage of serving members, the Women of Honour group and the Men and Women of Honour group, as well as serving members of the Defence Forces, who have shared their experiences of unacceptable behaviour in the Defence Forces. It was clear that there was a very critical and immediate need to address the prevailing work culture, including issues relating to the current systems, policies and procedures for dealing with unacceptable behaviour in the Defence Forces.

The primary objective of all concerned, at the outset, was to acknowledge issues in the current workplace and to establish a course of action that would address that. The Independent Review Group has undertaken this work in the past 12 months. Many stakeholders, including serving members, have lent their support to the Independent Review Group.

The Deputy will be aware that I met with the Group in January of last year in my capacity as Taoiseach.  I emphasised at that meeting that that the concerns and views of Women of Honour are not being ignored and the Terms of Reference gave the Independent Review Group sufficient lattitude to assess if a further body was work is required with regard to historical matters.

I understand that the Report will be with me later this week and I do not intend, at this time, to pre-empt any recommendations which might come from that.  I will of course, be  considering the Report in full, in consultation with the Attorney General before bringing the Report to Government and its publication.

I do intend to seek meetings with all stakeholders, including the Women of Honour.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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26. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will review the State’s overall handing of the Jadotville case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5199/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under attack. From the 13th to the 17th September they endured almost continuous attack. They were taken into captivity on the 17th September and remained in captivity until finally released on the 25th October 1961.

The issue of the award of medals to the men of “A” Company, 35th Infantry Battalion was addressed in 1962 and 1965. A properly constituted Medals Board considered the various cases presented. The board did not award any medals whose citations mention Jadotville. The Chief of Staff of the day considered the decision of the Board and was satisfied with the findings. Subsequently at that time, the question was raised again in a letter to a newly appointed Chief of Staff. He forwarded the letter to the original Medals Board and asked that they reconvene and review their decision. The Board indicated that the issues raised had received due consideration and that they were not prepared to alter their findings.  

A review was conducted in 2004 by military officers for the purpose of a broader examination of the Jadotville case. This Board recommended that the events of Jadotville and the contribution of the 35th Battalion be given recognition. In this context, a number of measures have taken place to honour and to commemorate the events at Jadotville and the very significant contribution of “A” Company and of the 35th Battalion, as a whole, to the UN Peace Support Mission in the Congo.

Recognition of their contribution between the years 2004 and 2015 include:

1. A presentation of scrolls to "A" Company in 2006.

2. Portraits of Lt Col McNamee (35th Battalion Commander) and Comdt Quinlan (Company Commander “A” Company) were commissioned in 2006.

3. In July of 2010 the 50th anniversary of the first deployment to the Congo was commemorated in a highly publicised and well attended event in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.

4. A nominal roll of “A” Company, printed in copper, was affixed to the monument in Custume Barracks and was unveiled as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Jadotville affair in September 2011.

5. On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Siege of Jadotville, a Unit Citation to honour the collective actions and bravery of the men of “A” Company was issued. This was the first time a Unit Citation was awarded within the Defence Forces.  

In June 2017, at the request of the Minister with responsibility for Defence, a further review of archival records relating to the Siege of Jadotville was undertaken by the Military Authorities but this did not uncover any additional information not already known.  However, the findings of this review clarified that there is no certainty available in archive records on the totality of “A” Company personnel recommended for awards. Furthermore, it revealed no evidence of the outcome of the award consideration process.  In considering the proposed way forward, the Military Authorities outlined that political direction would be required to take forward action in this area.

Given the increased knowledge and understanding of the unique and exceptional circumstances surrounding the Siege of Jadotville and taking account of the request from Military Authorities for political direction, the then Taoiseach and the then Minister with responsibility for Defence decided that the most appropriate decision would be to collectively honour the actions of “A” Company at Jadotville.

A specially commissioned medal “An Bonn Jadotville” was awarded to all the men of “A” Company, 35^thInfantry Battalion and the next of kin of deceased members, to give full and due recognition in honour of their courageous actions at the Siege of Jadotville in September, 1961. This medal presentation ceremony took place in Custume Barracks, Athlone on 2nd December 2017.

Notwithstanding the actions that have been taken to date to recognise and honour the valiant actions and bravery of all of the men stationed at Jadotville sixty years ago, an Independent Review Group (IRG) was established in 2021 to examine and report on matters relating to recommendations for military medals relating to events at Jadotville.

The Independent Review Group was established by the Chief of Staff and consisted of the following members:

Brigadier-General Paul Pakenham (Retired) (Group Chairperson).

Dr Michael Kennedy, Royal Irish Academy.

Commandant Billy Campbell (Retired).

RSM Michael Dillon (Retired).

Ms Linda Hickey, Military Archives.

The Terms of Reference for the review were as follows:-

- The Review Group will consider ONUC’s operational environment in Katanga, and in particular in Elizabethville and Jadotville

- The Review Group will consider the historical evidence and processes in relation to all recommendations for military medals received with respect to the events at Jadotville or encompassing Jadotville.

- The Review Group will engage with national and international stakeholders (including Jadotville veterans) as appropriate, with a view to uncovering any additional or new evidence in this case.

- The Review Group may consider the actions of individuals not already the subject of a recommendation for a medal in respect of Jadotville.

- The Review Group will report its findings to the Chief of Staff. The Review Group may make recommendations in relation to possible awards in respect of Jadotville.

The report, which was published in full in July 2021, is substantial and makes a number of recommendations in respect of the issue of award of medals, honouring the role of families and the support they provided to veterans and in respect of veterans affairs.  

The deeply unsettling aftermath of Jadotville is detailed in the report as is the lack of personal welfare supports afforded to the men following events at Jadotville, their period in captivity and upon their return home. The former Minister for Defence, Mr Simon Coveney, has apologised to veterans and to their families on behalf of the State and the Government to the men of ‘A’ Company, 35^thInfantry Battalion and to their families for the lack of necessary supports or deserved recognition of their valiant service on their return from the Congo and for the many issues that arose as a result, some of which had tragic consequences.  He has also acknowledged that the lack of supports in place at that time is extremely regrettable.  There have been great steps in the intervening years to support Defence Forces personnel, their families and veterans through the work of the Defence Forces personnel support services.

In recognition of the role of parents, wives and families residing in Athlone, Galway, Mullingar and elsewhere during the Battle of Jadotville and the subsequent period in captivity, the Independent Review Group strongly recommended that a plaque in their honour be affixed to the memorial honouring personnel of ‘A’ Company, 35 Infantry Battalion in Custume Barracks Athlone.

After further consideration by the Department and the Defence Forces, and in response to the views received from the veterans’ associations, a more substantial monument honouring the families was commissioned, to be placed at the site of the existing memorial honouring the personnel of ‘A’ Company, 35 Infantry Battalion in Custume Barracks Athlone. This monument was unveiled by the then Minister for Defence Simon Coveney at a brief ceremony on 9^thDecember 2022 at Custume Barracks, Athlone.

The implementation of any outstanding Independent Review Group recommendations is ongoing.

I am satisfied the matter has been addressed comprehensively and there are no plans to commence a process of further engagement.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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28. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the anticipated future role of the Defence Forces, Army, Naval Service, and Air Corps in future national and or European defence measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5172/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper published in 2015 set out the roles of the Defence Forces, these roles were not changed in the White Paper Update 2019.  

The White Paper on Defence published in 2015 set out the Government intention to put in place a new fixed cycle of defence reviews.  Such reviews are common practice internationally and give reassurance that policy remains up to date and relevant to changing future circumstances.

The first of these reviews, the White Paper Update was published in 2019.  The second of these reviews, the Strategic Defence Review stage, was due to commence in 2021.  With the establishment of the independent Commission on the Defence Forces by Government in December 2020, a decision was taken to pause commencing the Strategic Defence Review until the Commission on the Defence Forces had completed their report and Government had been given time to consider the report.

Following detailed consideration of the Commission Report the Minister for Defence brought to Government a High Level Action Plan and a Memo for Government which were approved on July 12th last year.  Part of the High Level Action Plan was the progression of a number of early actions one of these being the commencement of the Strategic Defence Review.  

The essential ingredients of the defence reviews process are to ensure an updated security assessment and a fresh consideration of the implications of this assessment for overall policy requirements, associated tasks, capability development and resourcing.  As well as encompassing the Government agreed recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces, the future role of the Defence Forces both nationally and internationally will also be considered within the Strategic Defence Review.  

Arising from the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, a significant overhaul of the Defence Acts will be required. This will provide an opportunity to modernise the legislation in a range of areas, including, if considered appropriate, in relation to the anticipated future roles of the Defence Forces.

The first stage of the Strategic Defence Review will be security environment analysis to be conducted by an interdepartmental working group which is due to commence shortly.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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29. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the work to implement the Defence Forces Pay Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4092/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Defence Forces are paid increases in pay and allowances in line with Public Service pay agreements.

The most recent agreement, the extension to the ‘Building Momentum’ pay agreement, ratified by the Defence sector Representative Associations last autumn, provided for increases in pay and allowances to all public servants, including members of the Defence Forces. The agreement provided for a 6.5 % increase over 2022 and 2023, including: 

- 3%, backdated to 2nd Feb 2022

- 2 % on 1st March 2023

- 1.5% or €750, whichever is the greater, on 1st October 2023.

Pensionable allowances in the nature of pay will also benefit.

The 3% increase back-dated to February 2022 was paid to all serving members of the Defence Forces members by 30 November 2022 last. Preparations are underway to pay the next tranche of 2%, due on 1st March 2023. In addition, the 1% increase backdated to 1 October 2022 [agreed under the original Building Momentum agreement] was also paid by 30 November 2022.

Given the complexity around Defence Forces pensions, a decision was made to prioritise on the 3% increase with arrears back-dated to February 2022, to ensure all Defence Force pensioners received some additional payment before Christmas last year; this was paid by 19 December 2022.  Preparations are underway to pay the 1% pension increase backdated to 1 October 2022 with the next tranche of 2%, due in March 2023.