THE DEFENCE Forces Ombudsman, which investigates complaints from military personnel, is being undermined because the authorities are ignoring many of its findings, it has been claimed.
PDforra, the representative association for soldiers, aircrew and sailors, said it had fought for many years for an ombudsman but was now left wondering what purpose that served.
PDforra president Willie Webb told delegates at the association’s annual conference in Trim, Co Meath, that the purpose of the ombudsman was to independently resolve grievances and complaints from members of the Defence Forces.
“But we are dismayed and alarmed to see an ever increasing number of these findings in favour of the complainant have been ignored and have not been implemented.”
He urged Minister for Defence Tony Killeen to act on the ombudsman’s recommendations in more cases in order to maintain confidence in the office.
Last year the Defence Forces Ombudsman, Paulyn Marrinan Quinn, received 105 complaints, down one from 2008. Some 37 related to promotions, 31 to inappropriate behaviour or bullying, and 14 centred on dissatisfaction with selection for career development courses. Some 33 per cent of the recommendations were either fully or partially rejected by then minister for defence Willie O’Dea.
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