There are 17 questions listed for Questions on Promised and we have 20 minutes. If Members limit themselves to 30 seconds for the question and 30 seconds for the answer, we will probably get through them all. If they do not, we will not get through them.

The Taoiseach met with the Women of Honour group yesterday. They had hoped to convince him that Government is taking the wrong approach to cases of rape, sexual assault, bullying and harassment of women within the Defence Forces. Sadly, however, they were left feeling deflated and disappointed following the meeting. The group are correct in saying that the review that has been proposed by Government is flawed and entirely unfit for purpose. Their call for an independent statutory inquiry that is removed from the Department of Defence is warranted and is in the best interests of truth and justice. They said they tried to persuade the Taoiseach of this necessity, but that he was not for turning. That is most unfortunate. These women have been to hell and back. They cannot and will not tolerate a whitewash. I want to invite the Taoiseach to establish the independent investigative process that is necessary.

I thank the Deputy for raising question. I had a good meeting yesterday with the Women of Honour group. I am also open to meeting with other stakeholders and other groups with whom the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, would have met in relation to this. They have been through a lot of trauma. There is no question about that. They are clear that they want cultural change within our Defence Forces in relation to assault as well as in the hierarchical nature of our Defence Forces in terms of how complaints are dealt with, particularly those that involve violence against women, sexual assault and the subsequent isolation of women who raise issues and who are then not considered for promotional opportunities and so on. Essentially, because they raise issues, they effectively get punished. That was the basic tenet of the presentation.

The review currently being decided on by Government is independent with a judge independent of the political system.

The Taoiseach’s time is up.

A statutory inquiry has not been ruled out. I have made that clear. We have had examples in the past where scoping reviews proved effective. Eventually, if the Government takes a decision to go down that particular route, this work will be important.