About the Independent Review Group - Defence Forces

Minister for Defence Simon Coveney TD secured government agreement to establish an Independent Review to examine issues relating to sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Defence Forces.

The aims of the Independent Review Group are to:

• advise whether the current legislative frameworks, policies, procedures and practices for addressing incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the workplace are effective
• independently assess whether the pervading culture in the workplace is fully aligned with the principles of dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces
• provide recommendations and guidance to the Minister on measures and strategies required to underpin a workplace based on dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces

This Independent Review is being undertaken by external and unbiased experts in the field. Its membership is totally independent in undertaking its function and will be given any access it requires to records or personnel, in both the Defence Forces and the department, in order to undertake its role.

Neither the Department of Defence nor the Defence Forces will have any editorial control over the interim or final reports. Such Reports may contain criticisms of systems, policies, procedures and workplace and it is accepted that such criticisms will be a necessary element of the process.