Commission criticises Defence Forces’ ‘masculine’ culture

Ireland's military suffers from a "masculine" culture which has a limited appreciation of any kind of diversity, the Commission on the Defence Forces has reported.

This culture is compounded by the fact that members are reluctant to file official grievances for fear of reprisal, it said. This is particularly the case if the complainant comes from a minority.

Much of the Commission’s report, which was published on Wednesday, focuses on concerns about the culture within the Defence Forces. It said “significant attitude and behavioural shifts” as well as a “critical mass” of female recruits, are urgently needed.

The Commission said there is a “patriarchal” approach within military management towards women and lower ranks which creates an uncomfortable workplace.

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“This culture is grounded in long outdated social concepts, such as the male being the breadwinner in a family, a creation of male and female roles and linking salary to self-worth.

The Commission noted its concerns about women in the Defence Forces have been echoed by the Women of Honour group, which last year brought forward allegations of abuse, harassment and discrimination in the military.

“The issues raised are of the utmost seriousness and the Commission welcomes the fact that a judge-led Independent Review to examine issues relating to sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Defence Forces has now been established,” it said.

It said it is clear from the Women of Honour’s experiences that the Defence Forces’ abuse policies are not serving all members adequately.

The Commission has recommended that an overall female participation rate of 35 per cent be set. Fitness standards should be updated “to ensure they are relative to accepted standards for females and modern military roles” and a female mentoring programme should be established.

The Defence Forces should also do more to attract recruits from minority communities, it said.

The Commission also recommended changes to some military traditions which could be seen as barriers equality. This includes separate eating facilities for officers and other ranks, a ban on men growing beards, induction ceremonies being marked with a Roman Catholic Mass and the "treatment of pregnancy/childbirth as an irregular absence from duty".

Reacting to the report, Minister for Defence Simon Coveney that it shows the need for a "cultural shift" in the Defence Forces. The planned judge-led inquiry into the matters raised by the Women of Honour will provide an "even more detailed report", he said.

Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins met with the Women of Honour group on Wednesday afternoon, to hear their experiences. In a statement afterwards, President Higgins said he thanked the women for their presentation to him, and “commended” the group for sharing their experiences publicly. Their efforts “will have given citizens, women and men, courage in coming forward with reports of abuse and inappropriate behaviour,” his statement said.

Separately, Mr Coveney said a review is ongoing into a Defence Forces social gathering in McKee Barracks in June 2020 during Covid-19 restrictions.

A military police investigation subsequently cleared the organisers of breaching regulations.

Mr Coveney said he received a report on the matter about ten days ago from the Defence Forces. There will now be an “external review of what happened that day and then what happened afterwards in terms of a military police investigation,” he said, promising that more details will be released at a later date. The review is being carried out by a senior counsel.

The Minister declined to comment on allegations an officer sexually assaulted a female subordinate after the social event, as the matter is currently subject of a military justice investigation.