Senator slams Tánaiste’s response to Defence Forces Report

Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell says he condemns the Minister for Defence and Tánaiste Micheál Martin’s rush to embrace the findings of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality while ‘stating that any wrongdoers should face the full rigours of the law.’

While speaking in the Seanad Chamber, Senator Craughwell pointed out flaws in the report’s methodology, including that the group did not partake in fact-finding with any individual participant.

He also criticised the Tánaiste for accepting the report’s findings without further investigation and concluding that it requires delivering a culture change in the Defence Forces.

Some of the report’s findings cited overt preference for a masculine culture, overemphasising physical fitness, misogyny, and little tolerance of women as negatives.

The Senator said these findings were based on the Judge, Bronagh O’Hanlon, listening to the lived experiences of individuals without examination or interrogation.

He also criticised the Judge for making sweeping generalisations and using a small sample size of participants.

“This report has thrown a cloud over every member past and present where a Judge, simply put, became Judge, Jury and Executioner.

“This report would not stand the test of any academic assessment, and the report methodology used would not support any findings.”

Senator Craughwell also criticised the Department of Defence for failing to maintain groups that could have improved the culture in the Irish Defence Forces.

“Look at the Independent Monitoring Group established in 2001 – is it not the case that every one of this group’s findings were implemented by Defence Forces?

“Where does the Judge see resistance to change?” he said.

“The recent intervention in the media by the first ombudsman for the Defence Forces Barrister Paulyn Marrinan Quinn shows the success of the Independent Monitoring Group and Defence Forces as best in class. The Independent Monitoring Group was shut down by your Dept in 2014, why?”

The Senator was keen to emphasise that the appropriate response to the recent controversy is to establish a statutory enquiry to run parallel to the Garda enquiry saying, “Tánaiste, you must move quickly to set up the statutory enquiry; this must run parallel to the Garda enquiry.

“Together with the Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Sean Clancy and Secretary General Jacqui McCrum we must ensure the bullies and those involved in inappropriate sexual behaviour are rooted out to face the law.”