Defence forces ombudsman disappointed at funding levels

THE Defence Forces ombudsman yesterday said it was “very disappointing” her office was not getting the funding it needed.

Paulyn Marrinan Quinn SC said poor state funding was used in other countries to undermine ombudsman offices, although she wasn’t suggesting this was happening here.

The Ombudsman for the Defence Forces provides an independent appeals process for serving, and former, members. It had its first full year in operation in 2006.

Publishing her 2007 annual report, Ms Marrinan Quinn said the number of cases referred to her office had risen by almost 200% in 2007 (to 76), but that there had been no increase in staffing.

“I have a serious funding, resources issue.” said Ms Marrinan Quinn.

The increase in caseload placed her office, which has three staff, under “considerable pressure”.

She said a key part of any dispute resolution process was to operate in a speedy fashion. “I am not able to do that because of lack of resources.”

Ms Marrinan Quinn said she had brought her concerns to the Department of Defence, but did not get any more resources, a situation she described as “very irritating and very disappointing”.

Her team still managed to deal with most of the 76 cases. Of these:

30 (39%) related to non-selection for promotion.

10 (13%) concerned non-selection for a career course.

Four (5%) related to bullying and harassment.

Three (4%) on non-selection for oversees service.

29 (38%) related to a variety of issues including administration disputes.

Ms Marrinan Quinn said they issued 29 final reports and found in favour of the complainant in 20 cases.

Commenting on an apparently low number of bullying complaints, she said it was difficult in any large organisation for a person to stick their head “above the parapet”.

“In a military context, where there is a chain of command structure, it’s very hard in that relationship to make a complaint; they are running the risk of putting their career on the line.”

Nearly a fifth of complaints came from the officer corps. Defence Forces’ Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Dermot Early, said he “wasn’t surprised” at the number of promotion-related complaints and said there were at least 300 promotions every year.

He said the four bullying complaints represented 0.003% of the 10,500 forces’ full-time members.

PDFORRA, which represents soldiers, sailors and airmen, expressed concern at the staffing problems.

Simon Devereaux, deputy general secretary, said the 56% rise in complaints on promotion was not surprising given the “widespread grievances” on the issue.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Defence said talks on staffing and resources were “ongoing”.

She said the office got €567,000 last year and Defence Minister Willie O’Dea was “supportive” of a request for alternative accommodation.