Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Paulyn Marrinan Quinn handled 83 complaints last year.
In her sixth annual report, Ms Marrinan Quinn said 37 of the cases were about the administration and management of selection procedures for promotion.
There were 13 complaints on selection procedures for career courses and 23 related to maladministration of career-related procedures.
Six complaints were about selection procedures for overseas services, while four related to alleged inappropriate behaviour or bullying.
The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was set-up in 2005 to provide both an independent and accessible appeal process for members who were not satisfied with the internal military handling of their grievances, in addition to providing civilian oversight of administrative practices within the Defence Forces.
The report indicated that an increased number of complaints were dealt with through the internal redress system of the Defence Forces.
In 2009, for example, only 21% of grievances initiated by serving members of the Defence Forces were resolved internally by the Defence Forces; in 2011 this figure had increased to 46%.
Ms Marrinan Quinn said the setting up of her office has had a positive impact on administrative and human resource management practices within the Defence Forces.
Last year, the ombudsman's office issued 32 preliminary reports and 29 final reports containing adjudications and recommendations.
Ms Marrinan Quinn said there was a reduction in time taken by the Defence Forces to respond to her reports at preliminary examination stage.
There was also a reduction in the time taken for a response from the minister and the chief of staff to adjudications contained in the ombudsman's final reports.
Ms Marrinan Quinn said that since the establishment of her office, some 36% of cases involved the management and administration of promotion selection procedures.
She said she is pleased that new promotion procedures are now in place, which she hopes will be more transparent and consistent.
Ms Marrinan Quinn said she would like to see her powers extended.
She said there are a number of improvements she would seek in a review of the redress of wrongs process in the Defence Forces, which has been promised by Minister Alan Shatter.
Ms Marrinan Quinn said she hoped the review would enhance, rather than undo, any of the benefits of the Ombudsman’s office.
