Bullying and harassment rife in Defence Forces

A new study has found that bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination are rife in the Defence Forces.

A survey of male and female personnel has found more than a quarter have experienced some form of harassment, and many say it is still continuing.

Nearly a third of women in the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) have suffered sexual harassment during service, with the complaints still ongoing.

And the study warned that servicemen and women were leaving the defence forces under the strain of abuse and harassment, usually coming from more senior members.

More than 10% of the 10,745 soldiers, sailors and air corps members were surveyed by the External Advisory Committee on the Defence Forces.

In addition, every servicewoman was questioned.

The report said: "The survey shows that there are unacceptable levels of harassment, bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment in the PDF and individuals have suffered and continue to be victimised by hostile workplace behaviour. The continuing exodus from the PDF cannot simply be explained away by the fact that individuals had acquired market place skills or that the pay was bad - there are other factors.''

It added: "The culture of the PDF has to change if recruitment and retention problems are to turn around.''

The survey found that 35% of females and 27% of males experienced harassment in the PDF, with 21% of women suffering during the last six months.

Some 26% of members said they had suffered bullying, as distinct from harassment, mostly during training.

But despite a complaints procedure, nearly 85% of both men and women did not report being bullied.

The report continued: "The vast majority of the respondents did not report the incident. Of those who did it is interesting to note that rather more were unhappy with the outcome than had the complaints resolved to their satisfaction.''

Most victims of harassment and bullying were targeted by senior members, and almost exclusively by men, the report found.

It added that more than half of those who had been harassed found the situation to be "worse or much worse than other stressful incidents in their lives".

Nearly a third of Ireland's 453 servicewomen reported being sexually harassed in the PDF - and two fifths of the complaints were ``still continuing''.

Most complained about sexist remarks or jokes, again with the majority of problems during training.

Of the women who suffered sexual harassment, nearly 23% complained of "unwanted physical contact" and a fifth were subject to the "display or circulation of pornography".

In addition, 41% of women but just 9% of men felt they had been discriminated against due to their sex.

The report, called The Challenge of a Workplace, recommended that new policies be introduced encouraging better employee relations, and allowing complainants individual representation at special hearings.

At a press conference in Dublin following the publication of the study, Defence Minister Michael Smith said a monitoring group, equality group and consultative group would now be set up to bring in the recommendations.

He also announced that a confidential telephone helpline would be launched tomorrow morning for servicemen and women.

He said: "The military environment is tough and challenging. However, there is absolutely nothing in military life which requires that any individual be singled out, victimised or subjected to abuse or bullying."

Chief of Staff Colm Mangan added that a two-week induction phase would now be provided for all new recruits during which they would learn their rights.

"It is a fact that young entrants today find it much harder to accept the discipline and regime of the Defence Forces,'' he said.

"There is no question of any diminution of our training standards. However, there is a fine line between this demanding training regime and bullying and harassment. Obviously this has been overstepped by a minority and we must ensure that it does not continue.''