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Women from the Irish Defence Forces at McKee Barracks in Dublin. Alamy Stock Photo

Micheál Martin to receive Women of Honour report today

A independent group has been reviewing allegations of bullying and harassment in the defence forces over the last year.

MICHEÁL MARTIN IS to receive the report from the Independent Review Group into allegations of bullying and harassment in the defence forces by the end of the day. 

Speaking in the Dáil today, the Minister of Defence said the judge chairing the review group has asked to present the report to him later this afternoon. 

The Women of Honour group said earlier this week that they have received no updates throughout the process and continue to await the report. 

It is understood the report, which is expected to be quite damaging, will not be published until the Attorney General’s office has reviewed it.

The Women of Honour group are a number of female Defence Forces members who acted as whistleblowers in regard to their own treatment of bullying and sexual harassment in their military lives. 

Their claims were detailed in a high-profile radio documentary in late 2021. 

Despite criticisms that it is over a year since the review group commenced its work, Martin said the delay has not been on his side. 

He said he is fully committed to ensuring that every member of the Defence Forces has the right to undertake their duties in a safe environment, underpinned by dignity and equality and by a culture of zero tolerance for any kind of bullying, discrimination, harassment or sexual abuse.

‘Incredible courage’

 

“That is an absolute priority,” he said. He commended the men and women that have spoken out, stating that it he has been “very taken by the incredible courage they displayed in sharing their experiences of unacceptable behaviour in the Defence Forces”.

“From extensive engagements with serving and former members of the Defence Forces, it has also been very clear that there is a very critical and immediate need to address the prevailing work culture, including issues relating to the current systems, policies and procedures for dealing with such behaviour in the Defence Forces,” he told the Dáil today.

He said the judge-led independent review group established last year has been examining systems, policies and procedures for dealing with issues relating to bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the Defence Forces, as well as the prevailing workplace culture.

“The primary objective of all concerned at the outset, therefore, has been to acknowledge issues in the current workplace and to establish a course of action that would address that,” he said. 

Martin added that it is “imperative that the current workplace culture is fully aligned with the principles of dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces”.

“I am fully confident that this report will help us do that while also advising on historical matters,” he said.

Following the report being reviewed by the Attorney General, Martin will bring the report to the Government for its consideration and subsequent publication. 

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    Mute lambda sensor
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:49 AM

    I used Johnstones paint recently. Absolute disaster. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. Cheaper than bigger brands and easy to see why now. Difficult to apply (kept streaking and patching) so it took several coats which cost me time and extra paint. It has now started fading in patches too. I will have to do the whole room again. So frustrating. Save yourself. Avoid it.

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Aug 4th 2020, 9:41 AM

    @lambda sensor: Johnson paint is sh_te. Just like Woodies and other DIY stores brands.

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    Mute Lily Martin
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    Aug 4th 2020, 12:50 PM

    @lambda sensor: I have always liked Dulux but bought two colours in their Easycare range and they are a nightmare. Keeps coming off the wall onto the roller as you are painting with it.

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    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:20 PM

    @Lily Martin: you really have to allow that first cost to dry in over night with the easy care

    Avoid using dulux weather shield, absolutely the worst. Had to repaint the house after 18 months. It peeled off everything.

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    Mute Sean Bean
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    Aug 4th 2020, 10:11 PM

    @lambda sensor: i have used Johnstones paint literally thousands of times, and i found nothing wrong with it as long as it’s applied properly,

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    Aug 4th 2020, 11:07 PM

    @Sean Bean: yeah… well I have applied paint hundreds of times without a problem. I tried 2 different colours of Johnstones and the problem was the same with both. I had actually bought it for a 3rd room and brought that back. Trust me, this wasnt an issue this side of the brush.

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    Mute Lily Martin
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    Aug 4th 2020, 11:16 PM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett: I was applying the first coat and when I ran the roller up then down, the down roll took paint off the wall. I have done a lot of painting over the years and never saw anything like it.

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    Mute Mark Reville
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    Aug 4th 2020, 2:57 PM

    Dulux for interior walls. Sandtex for exterior walls. Fleetwood Ceiling Paint is excellent.

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    Mute Sean Bean
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    Aug 4th 2020, 10:15 PM

    I think the main brands are very good, Johnstones, crown, dulux, sandtex, i think if it’s applied properly its dead on, the cheaper Paints are the worst as it take a lot more coats to finish, that’s just my option and i am a painter/decorator

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    Aug 4th 2020, 11:08 PM

    @Sean Bean: well if you are a painter/ decorator I wouldn’t have you near the house if you think Johnstone paint is any good.

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    Mute Sean Bean
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    Aug 4th 2020, 11:24 PM

    @lambda sensor: i am saying i have not had a problem with Johnstones paint, i was only giving my option,

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    Aug 5th 2020, 12:00 AM

    @Sean Bean: actually no, you weren’t just giving your opinion. You implied I hadnt put it on properly thus I was the problem, not the paint. You then tried to buttress your opinion by saying you are a professional painter/ decorator so you would know. I have been painting houses for 30 years and I have never had a problem with the paint before I used Johnstones. People can take out of that what they want but I, speaking for myself, will never let that stuff darken my door (or my walls!) again.

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    Mute George Tobin
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:36 AM

    Gloss on walls!!!!

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