Tánaiste Micheal Martin has vowed that he will be the Defence Minister that “gets this done” in reforming the Defence Forces following the shocking revelations of systemic abuse, especially of female members, in a devastating report published this week.
He also said that crimes uncovered by investigators would be dealt with heavily and that no veil of secrecy would be allowed to fall over them - as often happens in military disciplinary situations.
Mr Martin said that An Garda Síochána would be the ones to investigate any crimes.
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The Independent Review Group report into the stories of the Women of Honour was published on Tuesday.
One powerful section read: “Patriarchy, access to women’s bodies, viewing women as sexual objects, and the belief that seniority brings ‘privileges and protection’ are attitudes that are supported by the notions about gender from the last century, or even the one before that.
“They have no place in a modern Irish workplace.”
The Tánaiste was speaking at a passing out ceremony for new Defence Forces Cadets at Collins’ Barracks in Dublin city centre on Wednesday afternoon.
He said: “I think a lot can be done now, I think a lot is being done now to ensure the safety of current members of the Defence Forces.
“And also I’ll be saying to the class of today that you are now the new generation, the new leaders of our Defence Forces and that this is an opportunity to move forward in a different way and that they will be part of the transformation that has to occur within our Defence Forces in terms of the culture that has been referenced, I made it clear in yesterday’s published report.
“And also, to male sure mechanisms are provided and to ensure there are quick, expeditious hearings of any complaints, inappropriate behaviour or bad behaviour, that those, in fact, all members of the Defence Forces, would have access to very quick remedy of any untold issues occurring.
“I will continue to keep a very close eye on that.”
He added that henwould lead the reform when asked by a reporter.
Mr Martin promised: “Yes, I will certainly be the Minister that gets this done.
“I will certainly be the Minister that, not just gets this statutory inquiry established, but also the expertaal mechanisms, the external oversight body will be established very quickly and then also other measures that we can move very quickly on to change the culture.
“A lot of the improvements don’t have to wait upon the conduct or the outcome of the inquiry itself.
“The statutory inquiry will have the merit of being a formal fact-finding inquiry and that is important, both historically, and indeed in relation to more contemporary times.”
“Any mechanisms…. say someone is guilty of a crime, I’d have no place for that person in particular in the Defence Forces.”
“In terms of any crimes that have been committed, they in the first instance will have to go through the Garda Síochána, so this in the first instance will have to be worked out beyond this and there’s a bit of working out to be done on that front.”
Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Seán Clancy, added: “We look for any instance that arises to learn from it, to develop it.
“But that is the situation as of today and the confidence I have that the most recent report gives me great comfort around the fundamental standards and excellence that we demand from our cadets.”
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