Helpful process guides

1. You submit a written complaint to the Interim Grievance Manager (IGM)

2. You will receive an acknowledgement of the complaint (usually within 3-5 days)

3. The IGM will carry out a preliminary examination of your complaint to make a decision regarding the admissibility of the complaint and/or the most appropriate action to take (usually within 3-4 weeks)

4. Based on the preliminary examination, the IGM will consider the following:

• Where it appears that your complaint constitutes a criminal offence, you will be advised that the most appropriate course is to refer the matter to the Gardaí
• Whether information resolution/mediation options are warranted; or
• Your complaint needs to be formally investigated

5. Where your complaint discloses indications of a sexual offence contrary to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 1990, the IGM will forward the case to the Chief of Staff for transmission to the Gardaí in accordance with the Defence Forces' procedures

6. Where the IGM decides to deal with your complaint by way of formal investigation they will:

• Draft the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the purposes of commissioning the investigation, which will be disclosed with you
• Take steps to assign an appropriate independent and external person to conduct the investigation of your complaint (may take up to 4 weeks for appointment to take place)
• Notify both parties of the decision to investigate which includes informing the respondent of the substance of the complaint

The purpose of the investigation is to establish the facts which will be set out in a report to the IGM with the timeframe prescribed in the TOR (normally within 3 months)

7. The investigator will circulate their report (excluding findings) to you and the respondent and allow 5 days for fact checking. The investigator will then return the final investigation report to the IGM

8. The IGM will consider the findings of the investigator's report and determine whether any further action is required

9. Based on their final determination, the IGM may, where considered appropriate, refer the matter to the Chief of Staff and recommend that it be dealt with appropriately

This document is for guidance purposes only and does not outline the full IGM process.