Defence Forces criticised 'for slow pace of change' by oversight body
File By Was Such The Of Organisation The Body Picture Review Up Sexual Misconduct Allegations Into Independent Setting Abuse And Within Of Made A The Remendations One
The external oversight body for the Defence Forces has said that information which it should receive regarding “significant incidents of inappropriate behaviour” is not being provided to it in advance of it appearing in the media.
In a report to the Tánaiste, the independent group said in its interactions to date, “it is clear that the Defence Forces engagement with the body is not yet at the required level”.
“In a number of instances, neither the role nor expertise of the external oversight body has been recognised, even though such recognition would have enhanced the outcome,” it said.
In its update to Micheál Martin, it also said that confidence that cultural change will happen in the Defence Forces among members “remains very low”.
The Government has said the independent external body will have the responsibility to ensure there is cultural transformation within the Defence Forces.
Setting up such a body was one of the recommendations made by the independent review into allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse within the organisation.
The report comes amid sustained political pressure on the Defence Forces in the wake of the suspended sentence given to soldier Cathal Crotty for his assault of Natasha O’Brien in Limerick.
The oversight body said that while there is a clear sense of enthusiasm and commitment for their work, the lived experience of Defence Forces members is that proposed changes have had “limited impact to date”.
“The body is concerned at the slow pace of change and is of the view that there is an urgent need for acceleration of initiatives aimed at transforming the culture in the Defence Forces,” it said.
"We continue to highlight the ongoing need for the DF leadership to put in place more effective communications across multiple channels within the Defence Forces to ensure that key messages are disseminated consistently throughout the organisation."
The Government has previously faced criticism from the Women of Honour for the inclusion of the Department of Defence secretary general on the oversight body.
“The Tánaiste has said this external oversight organisation is key to the transformation of culture in the Defence Forces,” the Women of Honour said.
“It is impossible to see how this is possible with the Department of Defence sitting on the body.
“If a bishop was appointed to any of the inquiries on clerical abuse from the Murphy Report to the Ryan Report to the Ferns Inquiry, all central to changing the culture of child protection in this country, there would have been outrage.”
The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, meanwhile, “conveyed the decision taken by its executive not to engage further with the body at this time,” the external oversight body noted in its most recent update.