Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
92. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence if she has met with a group (details supplied); and to detail the work she has carried out to investigate and tackle misogyny in the Armed Forces. [33327/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Independent Review Group (IRG) established to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces made a number of recommendations in their final report which included the establishment of a statutory fact-finding process to investigate whether there have been serious failures in the complaints system in the Defence Forces in relation to interpersonal issues including, but not limited to sexual misbehaviour.
The Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry (‘Tribunal’) was established in 2024, to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces concerning workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. It will also investigate the response to complaints made regarding the use of hazardous chemicals within Air Corps’ headquarters at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. The Terms of Reference for the Tribunal were prepared in consultation with the Attorney General and shared with a wide variety of interested parties, including the Women of Honour Group.
I met with the Women of Honour Group and their legal advisors on the 26th January 2026, where we discussed matters relating to the Tribunal.
One of the first actions taken following the publication of the Independent Review Group report was the establishment of The External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces in April 2023, initially on a non-statutory basis. The Body was established on a statutory basis from 1 December 2024. The Body oversees and monitors the management of human resources by the Defence Forces and is a critical element in driving and achieving the goal of culture change throughout the Defence Forces.
The report of the Independent Review Group also recommended that serving members of the Defence Forces have access to an independent, external complaints service, delivered by a professional service provider, for as long as it takes to put a trusted internal system in place.
In April 2025, a new independent and external grievance system that deals with complaints of an interpersonal nature of bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and victimisation in the workplace, was made available to serving members of the Defence Forces (both PDF and RDF). This new process, led by Mr. Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, is available on an initial interim basis. A review of the process, which has been in operation for 12 months has commenced. The review will inform the primary legislation required to establish a suitable complaints process for serving members of the Defence Forces on a statutory basis.
This process is an addition to the existing suite of statutory complaint and grievance options, available to serving members of the Defence Forces, which includes the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces recently completed its review of the current Redress of Wrongs procedure, and the design of a new complaints process is under consideration. All these processes form part of a wider review and redesign of the grievance management framework within the Defence Forces, which is aimed at building trust and confidence in complaints processes.
The Defence Forces, with the support of an external legal firm, and input from the Department of Defence, have developed a 2-day extensive training programme for all Military Investigating Officers and Decision Makers in the complaints process, on the proper handling and processing of complaints pertaining to harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying and other forms of inappropriate behaviour.
In addition, the Defence Forces has developed mandatory Sexual Ethics and Respectful Relationships workshops in cooperation with University College Cork. These workshops are mandatory, and more than 3,000 members of the Defence Forces have completed this training so far.
There is no place for misogyny or any form of disrespect of gender in the Defence Forces. I am committed to ensuring that the transformation of culture in the Defence Forces, which is well underway, will continue to be a primary focus for delivery.
