The former High Court judge, who retired last November, will be supported in an independent review group by businesswoman Jane Williams of Sia Partners and distinguished barrister Mark Connaughton SC.

Ruth Fitzgerald SC has separately been nominated to conduct an independent assessment of specific actions taken by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces in response to a retired Defence Force member’s allegations of sexual abuse. Her report will be made available to the group once completed.

The establishment of the independent review follows serious allegations brought by the Women of Honour, a group of former Defence Forces members. Its aims have been set out by government as:

• To advise whether the current legislative frameworks, policies, procedures and practices for addressing incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the workplace are effective.
• To 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
• To provide recommendations and guidance to the minister [of defence] 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.

Defence minister Simon Coveney said: “I want to thank the three members for agreeing to undertake this work and welcome the expertise and independence they will bring to this important review. I have been very clear in my determination to address these matters without delay.

“Both I and officials in my Department have engaged in recent months with a number of stakeholders including both serving and former members of the Defence Forces, including the original Women of Honour Group, other Groups and the Representative Associations, PDFORRA and RACO. These engagements have brought serious issues to my attention and I have considered very carefully the respective views.

“It is absolutely critical that I proceed with this review to ensure that the workplace is safe for all serving members. In this endeavour, I believe I have the wholehearted support of serving personnel.”

An interim report will be submitted to Mr Coveney within six months, with a final report expected within nine months.

The Department of Defence said Mr Coveney had not ruled out a “further body of work” to examine the specific “historical allegations” brought by the Women of Honour group in the future.