An independent probe into allegations of bullying in the Defence Forces cadet school at the Curragh camp in Co Kildare, has found that policies in relation to employment equality needed major reconsideration and were not fit for purpose in the modern era of employment.
It said all instructors involved in training at the camp should be made aware of their care of duty towards cadets and be trained in the use of language towards cadets, "notwithstanding the nature of army life" and the requirement for training to be robust.
The investigation, headed by senior counsel Frances Meenan, also found discrimination against female cadets and recommended that all personnel in the cadet school undertake a course on equality legislation and its application.
It also called for a review of the social media policy at the school, finding that the sending of WhatsApp messages between instructors was not acceptable.
"There should not be a recurrence of such behaviour and staff [have been] so advised," Ms Meenan wrote.
She also said that the taking of a video of a member of staff should not go ahead without his or her permission and should not be forwarded on to any other person. She called for social media policy to be continuously updated and reviewed to keep up with changing technology.
This investigation was initiated in June 2020, after a protected disclosure was made by someone working in the school, to the former Minister for Defence Paul Kehoe.
He ordered a Review of Disclosures at the school but as those interviewed for the report were assured of confidentiality during the process, only the recommendations and not the full report has been published by the Department of Defence.
The full report and the 30 recommendations were submitted to the current Minister for Defence and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who said: "Although Frances Meehan SC has identified positive aspects to the systems and training environment in the Cadet School, this report again points to the need for transformation in culture, regulation and practices within the Defence Forces."
He added: "I want a career in the Defence Forces to be one where every individual feels valued, respected and recognised for the positive contribution they are making to the country's security."
The Defence Forces said it fully accepts the recommendations in the report and that following an order from its Chief of Staff, an action plan was "immediately put in place by the Cadet School in March 2022".
A Defence Forces spokeswoman said the plan, put into place more that 18 months ago, was being "constantly reviewed and updated" with the last review having taken place just last month.
She said new social media policies and updated training for instructors was taking place and was being reviewed as new cadet classes and instructors come into the camp.
The report had also said consideration should be given to reducing the numbers taken into the cadet school.
The Defence Forces said this is already happening with class sizes having been reduced from around 100 to around 40 per class.
The Standard Cadet Course takes approximately 17 months and the report recommended that the selection process for candidates for the school be "more rigorous".
Ms Meenan said it was apparent on reading the training diaries of some of the cadets that ended up being discharged, that they had "named learning conditions," and she said a full review of the suitability of persons with such conditions should be undertaken.
She said the threat of a withdrawal of cadetship was a cause of concern for those undertaking the training and that they should be fully informed of any process that may or may not lead to probation or discharge.
Defence Forces should update protective disclosures policy, report recommends
Amongst the report's main recommendations were that the Defence Forces should update its protective disclosures policy in light of recent case law at the Supreme Court. It also said members of the Defence Forces should be given training about the meaning and purpose of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.
It said that a separate office of a 'Confidential Recipient' for such disclosures should be created, which is not part of the military. However the report said that protected disclosures should not be a replacement for the reference of serious matters up the chain of command.
In response, the Department of Defence said the former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney had already appointed a separate independent organisation 'Raise a Concern' as a confidential contact person for those in the Defence Forces who might wish to raise concerns about workplace wrongdoing.
In addition, it said that interim support measures for members of the Defence Forces, past or present, who had been affected by unacceptable behaviour such as bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination or sexual assault were announced in October 2021.
