Chief of staff acknowledges inequality issue for women in Defence Forces

The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces has acknowledged that there is a problem with inequality for women in the Defence Forces and it needs to be addressed.

Lieut Gen Sean Clancy was responding to the report by the Commission on the Defence Forces released on Wednesday.

The report said Ireland’s military suffers from a “masculine” culture which has a limited appreciation of any kind of diversity. This culture is compounded by the fact that members are reluctant to file official grievances for fear of reprisal, it said.

The report was hard-hitting and blunt, he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland show, but he welcomed it “wholeheartedly”. Lieut Gen Clancy described the report as “clear and stark”, and said that “business as usual is not good enough” and that “the people of Ireland deserve better”.

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A light had been shone on the negatives “and there are many” within the Defence Forces, he added, but there were also “some positives” such as the public’s trust in the forces.

Lieut Gen Clancy said he was “looking forward” and was very motivated to implement the changes recommended in the report.

When asked if he would encourage his own daughter to join the Defence Forces, he said he would. There were many “fine people” in the organisation. “The vast majority” of people who served had “good, positive experiences”.

Gaps and failings

There were gaps and serious failings within the Defence Forces, he said. “But we know what they are, the Commission calls them out in a stark way.”

Much of the Commission’s report, which was published on Wednesday, focuses on concerns about the culture within the Defence Forces. It said “significant attitude and behavioural shifts” as well as a “critical mass” of female recruits, are urgently needed.

The Commission said there is a “patriarchal” approach within military management towards women and lower ranks which creates an uncomfortable workplace.

It said it is clear from the Women of Honour’s experiences that the Defence Forces’ abuse policies are not serving all members adequately.

The Commission has recommended that an overall female participation rate of 35 per cent be set. Fitness standards should be updated “to ensure they are relative to accepted standards for females and modern military roles” and a female mentoring programme should be established.