Defence Forces

A new "rapid response protocol" is to be established for Defence Forces personnel who are charged with serious criminal offences in the civilian courts following a report by Peter Ward SC. Mr Ward was appointed in June to undertake a high-level analysis of the application of military law and process

The External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces is to be established on a statutory basis from 1 December 2024. Two commencement orders under the Defence (Amendment) Act 2024 were signed this week, appointing the date for the establishment of the statutory body and prohibiting the use of the term

Former Labour Court chair Kevin Duffy has been appointed as the interim grievance manager for the Defence Forces. Mr Duffy, a qualified barrister, was deputy chair of the Labour Court from 1997 and chair from 2003, retiring in June 2016.

Legislation reforming the oversight of the Defence Forces could be referred to the Supreme Court over concerns about its constitutionality.

New legislation providing for the reform of high-level command and control of the Defence Forces is necessary as existing legislation is "not fit for purpose", the government has said. Ministers have given the go-ahead for the preparation of new legislation which will reflect recommendations made by

The inquiry led by Ms Justice Ann Power into the Defence Forces complaints process for bullying, discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct has been formally established. The Court of Appeal judge was named in January as chairperson of the tribunal of inquiry, which was established by statutor

Court of Appeal judge Ms Justice Ann Power has been appointed to chair the judge-led tribunal of inquiry on dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces. The inquiry is being established to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in the complaints processes in the Defence

The general scheme of legislation establishing the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces on a statutory basis has been published. The Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023 is the first of two bills which will implement key recommendations of the independent review group led by Ms Justice Bronagh O&r

The High Court has been asked to strike down an alleged secret agreement allowing the UK's Royal Air Force to intercept hostile aircraft in Irish airspace, according to reports. Independent Senator Gerard Graughwell is taking the legal action aimed at having the agreement declared unconstitutional a

An independent review by Francis Meenan SC found that employment equality and bullying policies at the Defence Forces cadet school were "not fit for purpose in the modern era of employment". Ms Meenan was appointed in 2020 to examine a whistleblower's allegations concerning the conduct of training i

A new report severely criticises the Defence Forces as resistant to change, with out-of-date HR policies and procedures and simply not fit-for-purpose in tackling unacceptable behaviour, bullying, discrimination, harassment, and sexual harassment. Tánaiste and defence minister Micheál

An independent report by Ruth FitzGerald SC into allegations of sexual abuse in the Defence Forces has been published. Ms FitzGerald was commissioned by the Department of Defence in May 2022 to look into allegations made in correspondence to the Department from retired sergeant Anthony O'Brien.

An independent review into the handling of allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Defence Forces is expected to be completed by the end of January 2023. Retired High Court judge Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon was appointed in January 2022 to chair the ind

A former lieutenant in the Irish Defence Forces was forcibly retired in 1969 on foot of a fundamentally flawed and unfair process and not in accordance with law, a review has found. Niall Beirne SC was appointed in May 2020 to review the case of Donal de Róiste, who was retired by President &

Ms Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon has been appointed to lead an independent review into the handling of allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Defence Forces. The former High Court judge, who retired last November, will be supported in an independent review group