The Women of Honour, who allege they were subject to sexual abuse or aggression while on duty, deserve a full statutory inquiry, Sinn Féin have said. 

In October, Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said that he had had a “good discussion” with the Women of Honour Group and that he had also spoken with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre to “satisfy myself that our course of action is appropriate and thorough.” 

However, following a second meeting last month the women said they felt “deeply disillusioned”. 

The Government has not ruled out a statutory commission of inquiry but has proposed in the meantime a non-statutory investigation. 

Minister for Defence, @simoncoveney, publishes the Terms of Reference, agreed by Cabinet last week, of a Judge-led Independent Review Group to examine systems, policies and procedures for dealing with unacceptable behaviour in the Defence Forces
More here: https://t.co/SAChbbJdrO

— Department of Defence (@IRLDeptDefence) February 1, 2022

"The terms of reference are something that we weren't happy with,” former Captain Diane Byrne told the PA news agency. 

"It's not addressing the issues. It's a done deal and it is a change of words that has been presented to us as final without our input.

"We were asked for our support, as opposed to our input, and we just feel totally disrespected."

Sinn Féin’s Defence spokesperson, Sorcha Clarke TD, said the Department of Defence should be doing more to get to the bottom of the allegations and the party will use its Dáil time to highlight the issue: 

“Our PMB [Private Members’ Bill] time this Tuesday evening will be used to call for a full statutory inquiry into these allegations as raised by the Women of Honour into the internal system of righting a wrong,” Ms Clarke told On The Record with Gavan Reilly. 

“And also asking for the Government to re-engage with the representatives of the Women of Honour”. 

Listen and subscribe to On The Record with Gavan Reilly on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

More broadly, Ms Clarke said the culture of the Defence Forces needed a fundamental change and the Government needed to take a lead on the issue: 

“We’re also asking the Government to commit to a zero tolerance approach on workplace bullying, harrassment and discrimination, assault and sexual assault,” she said. 

“Because when we look at the Defence Forces as a workplace and as a whole, what we ask them to do both at home and abroad, we do have a legal obligation but we also have a moral obligation to ensure that those who serve the state and protect us… are [themselves] protected.”

Main image: Pictured members of the Defence Forces. Picture by: Sam Boa/Rollingnews.ie.