Defence Forces
Dail Éireann — 2023-03-23
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Sorca Clarke (SF), Longford-Westmeath

I thank the Minister for that update. I have repeatedly asked this question over the past number of years and on the most recent occasion, I was told that this ruling was currently being implemented. There seems to be a substantial amount of greater detail in the answer he provided this time, which leads me to believe that this, while still a work in progress, is one that is nearing completion. The relevant handbook for the Defence Forces staff described in the finding is remarkable in two details. The provision relating to sexual harassment runs to one and a half pages, which is three times the length of that on discrimination and pregnancy-related discrimination. Whether this section is being updated is not mentioned at all.
This case was taken to the WRC by Ms Yvonne O'Rourke, who had two of her maternity leave periods classed as the equivalent of sick leave for a male officer. Having made the complaint internally in the first instance and then to the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, with neither upheld, Ms O'Rourke took the case to the WRC. The finding, ruling and judgment of the WRC were very far-reaching and the culmination of a seven-year process for the woman in question.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2023-03-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:51:43+00:00
Sitting date: 2023-03-23