Most complaints by members of the Defence Forces to Ombudsman about promotion

Most complaints to the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces relate to the "administration and management of the selection procedures for promotion", according to a report issued yesterday.

The report, by Ombudsman Patrick Anthony McCourt for 2012, revealed that of the 77 “active complaints’’ under investigation, 23 related to non-selection for promotion; 21 to general maladministration and 15 to non-selection for a career-related course. A further 10 referred to non-selection for overseas services or a particular posting and eight to interpersonal issues.

In all, there were 127 “notifications of complaints’’ in 2012, an increase on the 78 recorded in 2011 and the 62 in 2010. While the figures revealed an increase of 63 per cent in complaints in 2012 compared with the previous year, the report noted a reduction in the number dealt with through the Defence Forces’ internal redress system. “In 2011, some 46 per cent of grievances by serving members of the Defence Forces were resolved internally during the year, whereas in 2012 this figure dropped to 37 per cent,’’ the report added.

Increase in complaints

“The increase in the number of complaints notified to the Ombudsman during 2012, allied to the reduction in the percentage of cases resolved within the Defence Forces, provides a clear indication that the downward trend in the number of cases referred to the Ombudsman in recent years is not likely to be sustained.’’

The ombudsman’s office was established in 2005 to provide an independent appeal process for members of the Defence Forces, dissatisfied with the internal military handling of their grievances, and provide a civilian oversight of administrative practices. Mr McCourt praised the thoroughness of the investigations undertaken by military investigating offices.