Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has paid tribute to the Women of Honour for coming forward with their stories following the publication of a “stark” report into the allegation of sexual abuse and bullying in the Defence Forces.
The near 400-page report conducted by the Independent Review Group was published on Tuesday.
It found that the Defence Forces was an unsafe working environment for both men and women.
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It noted that women were “barely tolerated” and were more likely than their male counterparts to be subjected to sexual harassment.
The report was brought up in the Dáil by Labour leader Ivana Bacik who branded it “shocking” and said that it “details really serious issues around toxic culture that pertains in the Defence Forces”.
She said: “It's a culture that barely tolerates women at best and that abuses women in its ranks at worst.
“This is shocking to read.”
The Taoiseach said that the report was “shocking” and that while accusations of sexual abuse and bullying in the Defence Forces were reported before, they have never been put across so “starkly”.
Mr Varadkar said: “It's clear that attempts made to change things have failed.
“Unlike many other issues that we've dealt with in this house, it's not historic. It's ongoing and appears to be wide scale.
“I want to join Deputy Bacik in paying tribute to the Women and Men of Honour, Katie Hannon or RTE and Senator [Tom] Clonan and many others who have shined a light on all of this.
“The Irish women and men of the Defence Forces are loyal to the flag and loyal to the uniform and are willing to defend the State and bring peace to remote corners of the world.
“They have our support and respect, but they also need to respect each other, particularly women, particularly young people and particularly those in a lower rank to them.”
Mr Varadkar said that the Defence Forces needs “immediate cultural and behavioural change which goes to the very heart of issues relating to dignity, mutual respect and duty of care”.
He says that the Government will bring about this change as he vowed that a statutory inquiry into the issues will be “victim led”. Mr Varadkar said that he “did not want to put a timeline” on when this would be ready as it was “important to get it right”.
He added that Tánaiste and Defence Minister Micheál Martin is “keen to get it up and running before the summer recess”.
The report into the Defence Forces was based on personal testimonies from over 500 members.
It found female members were told to put “two locks” on their cabin doors in instances where people tried to sexually assault them.
There was a “discernible pattern of rape and sexual assault.” This took place in barracks, mess areas, naval boats, swimming areas, shower facilities and on overseas doors.
Some people who partook in the report said that they had to “barricade quarters to prevent sexual assault”.
Interviewees reported grooming of younger recruits by senior officers and repeated and regular incidents of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) being spiked by various drugs/
There were also reports of predatory behaviour targeting females in situations where alcohol is present.
Male members, meanwhile, said that they were “demeaned, humiliated, or severely physically assaulted to the point of doing damage to the person’s limbs”.
Some examples of “tubbing”, “beasting” or “mobbing” were described to those conducting the report. Tubbing is described as “the placing of an individual in a barrel, which may contain any combination of chemicals, oil, airplane fuel, deceased animal carcasses, or other substances, for the purposes of hazing or punishment”.
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