Gavin did not experience culture of ignoring bullying issues in Defence Forces

Jim Gavin said it was not his experience that there was a culture of looking away from cultural problems in the Defence Forces.

The Government has committed to a tribunal into allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying and discrimination in the Defence Forces after the recommendations of a report by an independent review group (IRG).

It will examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces concerning workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.

Reports of abusive behaviour have been made by the Women of Honour support group for former and current Defence Force members.

Early in the presidential campaign, Mr Gavin said he had “championed” those who had come forward but said he had never seen any instances of bullying or sexism in the Defence Forces.

While welcoming the comments, a spokeswoman for the Women of Honour said it had never had any contact with the Fianna Fail candidate in the past.

Retired Army and Air Corps captain Diane Byrne also said it was “difficult to understand” how Mr Gavin and others in high-ranking positions did not see bullying.

She said she had no issues with Mr Gavin in her limited engagement with him during her time in the Defence Forces but told the PA news agency: “On a broader issue of people who reach certain positions in the Defence Forces, it is difficult to understand how they did not see it.”

Ms Byrne suggested there were broader cultural problems within the Defence Forces where officials did not seek out ongoing issues with members.

Mr Gavin’s career with the Defence Forces has been cited by Taoiseach Micheal Martin as an example of why he would make an “outstanding” president.

In his 20-year career, the candidate served as a commissioned officer, a military pilot and chief flying instructor.

Mr Gavin was appointed chief of military aviation for the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic and Chad in 2010.

Speaking to reporters after an RTE televised debate on Sunday, he said he had a “very positive experience” in the Defence Forces.

Mr Gavin said he could only be accountable for his own actions and what he witnessed during his career.

“If I would have come across – somebody told me, reports to me, or I would have seen it – people know me, I would have taken swift action.”

Asked how he could say he “championed” Women of Honour without meeting them, Mr Gavin said he had made the comment when being asked about the tribunal.

“What happened is absolutely terrible and we want to see that those who were involved are going to be held accountable for their actions.”

Pressed on whether there was a culture of “looking away” from harassment and sexism in the Defence Forces, he said: “That wasn’t. I had a very positive experience in the Defence Forces and I do understand, and I have acknowledged, that that wasn’t everybody’s experience, and that’s why I welcome the tribunal.”

The IRG report found members were aware of long-standing practices of reprisals, including pejorative comments and withholding of entitlements as well as physical assaults and unfounded accusations being sent to gardai.

Almost 90% of female respondents to the IRG said they had experienced some form of sexual harassment, while the review found a “discernible pattern of rape and sexual assault” in its analysis of participants’ contributions.

More than a third of respondents said they faced bullying within the Defence Forces.

On misogyny in the Defence Forces in general, different sources available to the IRG concluded that, at best, the Defence Forces “barely tolerates women” and, at its worst, “verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abuses women in its ranks”.

Whoever becomes president of Ireland will also hold the position of supreme commander of the Defence Forces.

Meanwhile, Mr Gavin said he is looking into reports he owes a former tenant 3,000 euro, adding he did not have “all the information” about the matter.

It relates to a dispute with a former tenant around the time his own family came into financial difficulty and lost the apartment.

He said: “That matter was over 16 years ago. It was a very stressful time for myself and my family.

“Like a lot of families and couples, we came into financial difficulty at that time.”

Mr Gavin said: “If it happened, I’m very sorry that it happened. I’m looking into it and I will deal with it with urgency.”

Asked if he accepted he was in breach of rental law by not registering the property with the Residential Tenancies Board, Mr Gavin said: “Yeah, I didn’t register it.”