Minister Coveney announces an Independent Review into dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces

‘We need to establish this critical Independent Review to ensure that the Defence Forces is a safe workplace for all current serving members while also reviewing historical allegations’.

Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney TD, has secured Government agreement to immediately establish a judge-led Independent Review to examine issues relating to sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Defence Forces.

The aim of the Independent Review is:

• To advise whether the current legislative frameworks, policies, procedures and practices for addressing incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the workplace are effective.

• To independently assess whether the pervading culture in the workplace is fully aligned with the principles of dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces

• To provide recommendations and guidance to the Minister on measures and strategies required to underpin a workplace based on dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces.

This Independent Review will be undertaken by external and unbiased experts in the field. Its membership will be totally independent in undertaking its function and will be given any access it requires to records or personnel, in both the Defence Forces and the Department, in order to undertake its role.

Speaking today, the Minister confirmed that he has appointed Judge Bronagh O’Hanlon (retired) as Chair of the Group, Ms Jane Williams, SIA Partners and Mr Mark Connaughton SC

“I want to thank the three members for agreeing to undertake this work and welcome the expertise and independence they will bring to this important Review.

I have been very clear in my determination to address these matters without delay. Both I and officials in my Department have engaged in recent months with a number of stakeholders including both serving and former members of the Defence Forces, including the original Women of Honour Group, other Groups and the Representative Associations, PDFORRA and RACO. These engagements have brought serious issues to my attention and I have considered very carefully the respective views.

It is absolutely critical that I proceed with this Review to ensure that the workplace is safe for all serving members. In this endeavour, I believe I have the wholehearted support of serving personnel.”

An interim report will be submitted to the Minister within 6 months with a final report expected within 9 months.

The Minister also referred to the recent historical allegations brought forward by the Women of Honour Group and other stakeholders in recent months and indicated that he has not ruled out a further body of work to examine these matters in the future.

“I am very grateful for the courage Women of Honour, other Groups and serving personnel have shown in sharing their experiences. These historical cases are complex, particularly in relation to cases of alleged sexual misconduct. I have additionally liaised with the Attorney General and taken advice from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on these matters. I wish to state categorically that these cases are not being ignored but careful consideration on how best to address these allegations is required. The Terms of Reference of this Review provide that both former and serving members may share their experiences with the Independent Review Group who may then determine if a further body of work is required in relation to specific allegations.”

Neither the Department of Defence nor the Defence Forces will have any editorial control over the interim or final reports. Such Reports may contain criticisms of systems, policies, procedures and workplace and it is accepted that such criticisms will be a necessary element of the process.

The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy and Secretary General of the Department of Defence, Jacqui Mc Crum have both welcomed the Review and confirmed their full support and co-operation with this process.

In a related matter, the Minister has received the nomination of Ms Ruth Fitzgerald S.C. to conduct an independent assessment of the specific actions taken by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces on foot of extensive correspondence received from a retired, Defence Force member, in relation to allegations of sexual abuse. This is a discrete assessment and the outcome will be made available to the Independent Review Group once completed.

Serving and Former Defence Forces members affected by unacceptable behaviour in the workplace are reminded that external to the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence, there is a Confidential Contact Person.

If you are impacted please contact Raiseaconcern on 01-610 7929/086 0299929, defence@raiseaconcern.com.

ENDS

NOTE for EDITORS

The Independent Review will be undertaken by external and unbiased experts in the field. Its membership will be totally independent in undertaking its function and will be given any access it requires to records or personnel, in both the Defence Forces and the Department, in order to undertake its role. The membership will consist of three people:

1. Judge Bronagh O’Hanlon (Retired)

Judge Bronagh O'Hanlon studied in Trinity College, Dublin and the King’s Inns. She was called to the bar in 1989 and became a senior counsel in 2005. Her practice primarily consisted of civil litigation and family law matters. She is a former chairperson of the Family Lawyers Association of Ireland. She was a panel member under the Garda Síochána disciplinary Regulations. Judge O’Hanlon was appointed to the High Court in January 2014.

Her case load has included many cases involving personal injuries, medical negligence, and family law matters. She approved the first ever service of documents via LinkedIn in Ireland in a liquidation case in 2014. Judge O’Hanlon is an accredited mediator and also undertook Child Abduction work, Childcare cases concerning children in Secure care. Judge O'Hanlon retired as a judge on 13 November 2021.

2. Mr Mark Connaughton SC

Mark Connaughton is a practising barrister having commenced practice in 1990. He became a Senior Counsel in 2002 and practices exclusively in the area of civil litigation, specialising in employment law. Mark is also a CEDR accredited mediator.

3. Ms Jane Williams, Sia Partners

Jane Williams is the Managing Partner, Sia Partners, Strategy and Organisational Change consultancy. Clients include public and private companies across a wide range of commercial sectors, government departments and agencies, sports and voluntary organisations. Immediate past Chairwoman of TLAC, the Pensions Authority, and formerly Small Business & Services Forum and a Medical Device group. In addition to top civil service appointments, she was also a member or chair of selection processes for top judiciary, police and military positions.