Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 27 February 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence

General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed)

Photo of Cathal BerryCathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is great. It is a very stimulating conversation. I have loads more questions but I am conscious of my colleagues. I will ask two quick ones.

Regarding the internal complaints processes, the witnesses come from academia, industry and the trade unions. Presumably, they have a HR department with an internal disciplinary process in their various sectors. The last question is to Ms King. I totally appreciate she is reading from a document that states there is a higher proportion of complaints in the Defence Forces than in other walks of life. However, I do not think any other sector has been exposed to an IRG process with such forensic, granular research being done. What is the basis of that comparison? You can make one in absolute terms but to compare it with society and different sectors while not having done an IRG process on those sectors, I would be very slow to make that assumption or draw that conclusion. Those are my final thoughts. I may come back in again on the second round.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.