Defence Forces ombudsman to combat bullying

John Breslin and Diarmaid MacDermott

Mr O’Dea was responding to reports that a number of personnel have been disciplined for bullying recruits at the Defence Forces headquarters at Dublin’s McKee Barracks.

“I am satisfied that we have the structures and systems in place to deal with any isolated cases of bullying,” he said.

“The proper investigation of bullying of recruits at McKee and the disciplining of those responsible shows that no one is above the law in the military.”

But representative body PDFORRA said there was still a reluctance to report bullying. General secretary Gerry Rooney said: “The real issue is that people have to be confident that making a complaint, whether formal or informal, will not lead to problems for them further down the line.”

But Minister O’Dea said recent initiatives to combat bullying included:

A major educational awareness programme.

A total of 177 of the planned 200 liaison officers were in place to facilitate complaints.

A confidential helpline was set in March 2003.

Defence Forces’ procedures have been reviewed by an equality think-tank.

“A great deal has been done over the past five years to root out each and every incidence of bullying or harassment,” said Mr O’Dea. “I do not believe the problem is widespread, but even a single incident is one too many.”

Meanwhile an expert group recommended yesterday that new laws should be brought in to combat workplace bullying.

The expert advisory group was set up a year ago to advise the Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen.

The minister yesterday published the group’s report and welcomed the key recommendations that legislation should be brought in to deal with the problem.

The minister said: “I intend to open consultations with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) and other

interested parties in order to decide how best to implement the group’s recommendations“.

Mr Killeen said that, “the principles laid down by the group would underpin future consideration of the issue by the Government, as anything less was not acceptable in a fair, safe and equitable workplace”.