Carol Nolan urges statutory independent inquiry into Women of Honour
Carol Nolan spoke in the chamber on 8 Feb 2022 about allegations raised by the Women of Honour campaign and called for an independent statutory inquiry. She insisted that victims — both serving and retired — must be consulted and that the process deliver accountability.
Calls for independent statutory inquiry
Carol Nolan said she sought assurances directly from the Taoiseach and has pursued the matter through parliamentary questions. She argued the serious nature of the allegations made by the women of honour deserve nothing less than a statutory independent inquiry and that it is paramount to get to the bottom of the allegations.
Concerns over consultation with victims
She reported being told an independent review was at an advanced stage and that issues would be examined as part of the Commission on Defence Forces report. After that reply, the Women of Honour campaign informed her they had not been consulted and that victims, both serving and retired, had not been engaged — a situation she described as making no sense.
Existing reports and demands for decisive action
Carol Nolan noted that there are already reports from the Independent Monitoring Group and the Report External Advisory Committee on the Defence Forces. She said what the women need now is decisive action, firm government commitments and, more importantly, accountability. She has submitted further parliamentary questions to the Taoiseach and the minister, but said the responses would not be processed until the evening.
Assurance of support for campaigners
She assured the women involved in the Women of Honour campaign that they have her full support and urged them to continue pressing for an effective, consultative statutory inquiry. Nolan emphasised that any inquiry must place the voices of those women at its centre.
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Minister, in November of last year I sought assurances directly from the Taoiseach in this chamber to ensure that there would be an independent statutory inquiry. I do feel that the serious nature of the allegations made by the women of honour deserve nothing less than a statutory independent inquiry. That is why I feel it is of paramount importance that that is done and that we get to the bottom of these very serious allegations. But I also want to state that it is something that I have pursued this issue and I have submitted parliamentary questions on this very matter. I was informed that efforts to establish an independent review were at an advanced stage and that the issues would be examined as part of the Commission on Defence Forces report. It was only subsequent to the reply to that parliamentary question, however, that the Women of Honour campaign made it clear to me that the independent review was proceeding without anybody having been consulted and without the victims both serving and retired having been consulted. So that makes no sense. We have to ensure that we have the voices of those women central to this whole independent statutory inquiry. That is what needs to happen because it makes no sense to move with something or any sort of inquiry without consulting with the parties concerned. That was deeply regrettable, I felt, even if further meetings have taken place since then. Minister, we already have reports from the Independent Monitoring Group and the Report External Advisory Committee on the Defence Forces, but now what the women need is decisive action, firm government commitments and, more importantly, accountability. I have submitted further parliamentary questions to both the Taoiseach and Minister Coveney, but unfortunately the responses of these questions will not be processed until this evening. But I want to assure the women involved in the Women of Honour campaign that they have my full support. Keep pushing up to them.
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