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THE WOMEN OF Honour have said they are “shocked” at the appointment of the Secretary General of the Department of Defence as a member of the external overnight body tasked with driving necessary cultural change within the Defence Forces.
It was confirmed yesterday that professor Brian McCraith, who also chaired the taskforce on Covid-19 vaccination and was President of DCU, will chair the oversight body.
Four independent members have also been appointed to the body, along with Jacqui McCrum, Secretary General of the Department of Defence.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said yesterday these are “good appointments”, and that they evidence how “seriously” the Government is taking both allegations of abuse within the Defence Forces, and the recommendations made in the report from the Independent Review Group (IRG) on abuse allegations.
That report, published last month, found that cases of bullying, harassment, discrimination and sexual harassment continue to persist within the Defence Forces.
The Women of Honour (WoH) are number of female Defence Forces members who acted as whistleblowers in regard to their own treatment over bullying and sexual harassment in their military lives.
In a statement last night, the WoH said they were “shocked” by the appointment of the Department of Defence’s Secretary General as a full members of the oversight body.
The WoH said they will be seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach regarding her appointment.
“The Tánaiste has said this External Oversight organisation is key to the transformation of culture in the Defence Forces. It is impossible to see how this is possible with the Department of Defence sitting on the body,” the WoH said in its statement.
“This Oversight Body, which has come as a complete surprise to us .. despite the Tanaiste’s claims of a willingness to consult, is in some ways putting the cart before the horse – a Tribunal has yet to establish what went wrong, yet people are already trying to diagnose that separately,” the group said.
The WoH added that “putting the Department of Defence on the body, while it is yet to be investigated for the ongoing abuse in the Defence Forces, is unbelievable”.
“Only a root and branch review will change any organisation and having one of those organisations that is responsible for the existing rotten culture designing the new one is a flaw from the outset.”
The appointments have been made without consultation with the Women of Honour, Martin said yesterday.
When asked why the group, which has campaigned to bring cases of abuse to light, was not consulted on the appointments that have been made to the external oversight body, Martin said that it is key that the body is “external of everyone”.
New laws will be required to establish the oversight body on a statutory basis.
The Defence Act 1954 will have to be amended to allow all allegations of rape, or aggravated sexual assault in the Defence Forces in the State be referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation.
There will also be a significant programme of reform and culture change delivered by external experts, with measures to eradicate reprisals and retaliation, and develop new policies on gender, inclusion and diversity.
The IRG report warned: “Change is required to rebuild what is clearly broken in existing systems. The recommendations in this report are radical and, if implemented, will be far-reaching.
“A failure to implement the recommendations will mean a further regression and the Defence Forces’ position could deteriorate beyond repair.”
A statutory inquiry will also be established into the claims. Speaking in the Dáil last week Martin said:
“What’s important now is that we quickly build on it and a Statutory Inquiry is one of the logical and necessary next steps, examining how complaints have been dealt with.
“I want to assure the House that I will bring forward Terms of Reference for this Inquiry as soon as possible, engaging with stakeholders in their preparation.”
With reporting by Eimer McAuley
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RIP.
A good man who stood by his principles while others caved.
I woulnt often agree with him but on telly he came across as a decent person. At least he stuck to his principles
Agree or disagree with him, may he R.I.P.
I met Peter Mathews once in the dark days when Ruairi Quinn just got his plan through to get rid of guidance counsellors.I was in the Dail to c the vote.Afterwards I was so upset I just bumped in to Peter by chance .I recognised him from TV.He asked me what was wrong as he saw I was upset.Peter Mathews stopped and listened to what I had to say.He was dumbfounded.But I could immediately see before me a kind concerning and one hundred per cent genuine man.Condolences to Peter’s wife and family.May he rest in peace.Im so sorry to hear this very sad news
I didn’t agree with most of his political opinion but admired him in interviews.He never lowered himself to talking over his fellow guests , it stood out.Sympathy to his family & friends.
@Diarmuid Doran: He was a decent man, should never been in fg.
Ah no way. He was excellent in relation to the bank guarantee, if only he had been listened to our states finances would have been in much better shape.
RIP
For once I’m agreeing with you… I don’t want to make a habit of it.
FC yeah, it was one of the few times I agreed with him, I thought he made some excellent points all through the era of the crash and bank guarantees.
So sad. I liked Peter, I do think he was a good guy but politics put an end to his ideas. Pity people like this can’t make a difference when they get elected but the system doesn’t help them.
So sorry to hear of Peter’s death. A very principled person – we need more of his kind. First encountered Peter at an event which he organised (at his own expense) near the peak of the banking crisis at the RDS Almost everything he predicted about the banks that evening actually came to pass. Anyone else recall the evening – about 50 people attended including just one TD, George Lee? Pity more people didn’t listen to him then.
RIP. A real gentleman
Peter Mathews was a great man, great economist, but an uncompromising politician, and that was his undoing as a politician. Once he declared his pro-life conviction he was persona non grata among the intolerant, so-called “liberal” left.
He was a mighty man, and he will be greatly missed.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
@Brian Lenehan: is there a liberal right.
@Brian Lenehan: i’m on the liberal left and I gave Peter Matthews a high preference in both general elections. I mightn’t have agreed with the man on every topic, but I could recognize a man of principal and ability.
No time for 90% of people in Fine Gael but Peter Matthews was always articulate, passionate and had a very decent streak in him.
RIP
Sorry to hear he always came across as a gent. May he rest in peace.
RIP Mr Matthews you are one person who actually tried to do the state a service and not for your own gain.
A kind articulate soft spoken but strong opinions.
Tough without being rude or loud a true gent who believed in his convictions and stood by them RIP
Peter was a wonderful man. He had time for everyone, and would spend ages talking to friend or foe. He was passionate and stubborn, but he never took disagreement personally or fell out with you if you thought some idea of his was nuts. Most of his big ideas were right. We could use more personalities like Peter in politics, regardless of their views.
He was a good man, got a bit swallowed up by FG.
Vinnie Browne used to get enjoyment from picking Peter by the scuff of the neck and shaking him vigorously around the studio, before dropping him. Peter was an able man though, and could take the banter.
Peter Mathews was an honorable and honest person. He was committed to his beliefs but was always courteous and considerate to everyone, in agreement with him or not. He deserves to be respected and remembered for all the right reasons. Condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.
So young and very sad – didn’t always agree with him RIP
I remember him on Vincent Browne, he was such a nice thoughtful man so unlike the gombeens in the main parties.
Rip Peter Matthews
RIP …HE WAS A MAN OF TRANSPARENCY AND OPENESS with truth as his maxim ….
RIP
I greatly enjoyed our few chats. Rest In Peace Forever Peter.
Sad news, condolences to his family.
May he rest in peace! God bless him and his family
May he rest in peace. A gentleman from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.
Very sad news, Condolences to his family and friends.
And we should care why?
@Christine Downey: Cos a man just died leaving his wife and children behind (who also had to bury their mother/grandmother only last week). If you didn’t care why did you click on the article in the first place? Why did you take the time to write that unnecessary comment? I don’t think you would be saying the same thing if this was your husband or father. Have a bit of respect ! Grow up…
I always thought he was one of the nicest TD’s in Fine Gael. Always came across as calm, reasoned and well spoken. A true gent. RIP.
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