The Chief of Staff has “encouraged” Defence Forces personnel to engage with a forthcoming tribunal into harassment, amid fears that contributors could face reprisals within the services.
The Government has ordered a tribunal of inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces, in respect of workplace incidents relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual assault and rape.
The judge-led tribunal, to be established in the coming weeks, follows an independent report into a range of such allegations as well as the culture of the Defence Forces.
The report also found that members were aware of long-standing practices of reprisals, including pejorative comments and withholding of entitlements as well as physical assaults and unfounded accusations being sent to gardaí.
Lieutenant General Sean Clancy has been tasked with leading the Defence Forces through a significant period of reform in the wake of the report and other matters.
Asked on Thursday about the concerns of personnel that they may face reprisals for discussing their experiences, he said the independent nature of the tribunal would create an environment where people can contribute “of their own volition”.
He told reporters: “I’m sure the judge will set the conditions under which people can contribute to them.
“And I’m quite confident that if people have something to say, and I would encourage them, they should come forward.”
More broadly, he said he was confident that “cultural change” was being delivered.
The Tánaiste has indicated that he will be signing a statutory instrument to give effect to the formal establishment of the tribunal in the next fortnight, with work to begin “shortly thereafter”.
An allocation of €3.6 million has been provided to the Defence Vote in relation to the tribunal in the estimates for 2024, with further allocations for subsequent years to be agreed in the annual process.
This week, Lt Gen Clancy was appointed the first Irish chairman of the EU Military Committee (EUMC).
The committee is the highest military body within the European Council and is the forum for consultation and co-operation between EU member states in the fields of conflict prevention and crisis management.
Lt Gen Clancy said he was “very grateful, quite humbled and greatly honoured” to be appointed chairman.
“It is an enormous personal honour for me to be afforded this opportunity to represent the Defence Forces and Ireland at the highest military level within the EU.
“However, this appointment is not solely about the individual, but rather a true, tangible reflection of the standing and the high regard in which Ireland and the Defence Forces are held by all our EU partner nations.”
He thanked officials within Government and the Defence forces, adding: “This was very much a national team effort.”
Lt Gen Clancy also thanked his wife, Caroline, his children, his mother Helen and his wider family for their support throughout his 40 years of service in the Defence Forces.
“As members of the Defence Forces, we are all acutely aware that we only get to dedicate ourselves to a life of military service because of the sacrifices and support our families and friends give us and for this I am truly grateful.
“Most importantly, I would like to thank the men and women who serve Oglaigh na hEireann.”
He will remain in his current position until he takes up the three-year role in 2025, after which he is due to retire.
In his remaining year as Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Clancy said his “energy and focus” remains on transforming the Defence Forces.
He said “an awful lot” has been achieved in terms of equipment and infrastructure, adding that command and control improvements would be in the “next phase”.
In particular, he said personnel would see the benefits of a “digital soldier” investment project around equipment.
He also said there had been a range of measures around recruitment and retention initiatives.
