The Tánaiste has been accused of “putting the cart before the horse” by announcing a new complaints process for the Defence Forces.
It comes after Micheál Martin appointed Kevin Duffy, former chairman of the Labour Court, as the interim grievance manager for the Defence Forces for 12 months, supported by external HR professionals.
The new procedure is designed to allow for an external and independent investigation of interpersonal complaints involving members of the Defence Forces.
The Women of Honour support group for former and current Defence Force members said the move was premature, pending the outcome of the tribunal of inquiry which was established to investigate bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment within the Defence Forces.
The Government committed to a full statutory inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying and discrimination in the Defence Forces after the recommendations of a report by an independent review group (IRG).
In a statement to the PA news agency, Women of Honour said: “Any final processes for the Defence Forces should only be statutorily established based on learnings that come from revelations at the upcoming Tribunal of Inquiry.
“Claiming to be transforming the Defence Forces before a Tribunal has diagnosed its cultural problems is putting the cart before the horse and such claims are more of the State and its institutions closing ranks to protect themselves.
“Many, many Defence Forces personnel are too afraid to give statements to the Tribunal for fear of retribution, so non-statutory processes such as this latest PR exercise by the Tánaiste will encounter difficulties too until the daylight of a proper investigation sterilises the past and confidence builds for the future.
“That will not happen overnight.”
The Women of Honour group said it had no input in designing this complaints process.
Mr Martin said the new independent and external grievance process is “another important step in the cultural transformation of the Defence Forces”.
He added: “My priority is to make it available to personnel without further delay.”
The Defence Minister said he had constructive engagement with the “external oversight body, Defence Forces representative associations and the women’s networks” in developing the process.
He said the new strategy would provide a strong basis to legislate for a permanent complaint resolution process.
The Department of Defence said it addresses a key recommendation contained in the Independent Review Group (IRG) Report, that members of the Defence Forces should have access to an independent and external complaints system.
Mr Martin said stakeholders will be consulted and their views fully reflected in a review of the interim process next year.
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy welcomed the development.
He said: “It will be a further key enabler of cultural transformation within the organisation.
“I encourage all members to support this initiative and to engage fully with the process whether they are a complainant, a respondent or a witness.”
Mr Martin also progression on the development of a complaints system for civilian employees and civil servants who work with the Defence Forces.
