Kathleen Funchion demands survivor-led terms for inquiry
Kathleen Funchion addressed allegations of assault and abuse in the Defence Forces, welcoming a statutory inquiry and the decision that allegations of rape or sexual assault will be handled by An Garda Siakana. She urged that terms of reference be fit for purpose, include clear timeframes and be developed in serious consultation with the women affected.
Key points of the speech
She commended the courage of the women who spoke up and praised her colleague, Deputy Sir Erika Clarke, for her work. She welcomed the statutory inquiry and specifically welcomed that allegations of rape or sexual assault will be handled by An Garda Siakana.
Support for survivors and consultation
Funchion emphasised that survivors deserve respect and consultation, saying the views and wishes of the women must be front and centre. She drew on past experience engaging with survivors of the mother and baby institutions to underline the importance of getting terms of reference right.
Concerns about terms of reference and timeframes
She warned against repeating past mistakes where inquiries raised hope but ultimately produced terms of reference that were not fit for purpose, leaving survivors with more anger and questions. She said timeframes are important but must be paired with meaningful consultation and properly designed mandates.
Impact on the Defence Forces and condemnation of wrongdoing
She expressed concern that media coverage and the allegations have damaged the reputation of the Defence Forces and undermined committed personnel. She condemned those in positions of power who allowed abuses to occur and criticised bullies who intimidated and controlled those under their supervision.
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Thanks very much. First of all, I want to also welcome the women that are here with us today and commend their courage and bravery, and also all of the women who spoke up. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and it is definitely not an easy thing to do in any way, shape or form, but particularly when you are dealing with such a male-dominated organisation. Unfortunately, I also want to commend my own colleague as well, Deputy Sir Erika Clarke, for all of the work that she has done in relation to this. Too often we are in here debating issues that have negatively affected women, and when I heard that there was going to be a statutory inquiry, I welcome that, and I think that is good. I also want to specifically state that I welcome that any allegations of rape or sexual assault will be handled by An Garda Siakana, because I think that is really, really important. I think there are probably a lot of people that did not realise that that actually was not the case, they did not understand maybe that it was a different type of a system, and we definitely need to see that done, so I welcome that. But I will say, as somebody that has had a lot of engagement with survivors of the mother and baby institutions, and I have seen there, I suppose, hope at first when they heard there was going to be an inquiry, and then how long that went on for the terms of reference really at the end proved they were not fit for purpose, and that investigation did not really, I suppose, it left a lot more anger and hurt and a lot more questions. From my experience with that, I definitely do not want to see that being repeated. And I think it is really, really important that the terms of reference, as my colleague has said, we want timeframes for that, but it is so important that they are done correctly, and that they are done in consultation with the women, but that they really are fit for purpose. And we do not see any more repeats of what we had already. I want to say as well that I am conscious that much of what has been said here today and in the media has significantly damaged the reputation of the defence forces that undermines the really dedicated women and men who commit to a life of service for the public good. So I would say shame on all those in positions of power who have let those brave people down, shame on those who have allowed female service women to be raped, attacked and assaulted, and shame on the bullies who intimidated, coerced and controlled those under their supervision. Again, I just reiterate, my colleagues called for a timeline, but the big thing here is it needs to be in serious consultation and the views and wishes of the women need to be front and centre and need to be respected. Thank you, Deputy. We now move.
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