Defence (Amendment) Act 2024
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External Oversight Body - insertion of Part XIII in Principal Act | ||
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21. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following Part after Part XII: | ||
“PART XIII | ||
COMHLACHT FORMHAOIRSITHE SEACHTRACH ÓGLAIGH NA HÉIREANN | ||
Interpretation (Part XIII) | ||
319. In this Part— | ||
‘committee’ means a committee of the External Oversight Body established under section 328; | ||
‘establishment day’ means the day appointed under section 320; | ||
‘financial year’, in relation to the External Oversight Body, means a period of 12 months ending on 31 December in any year and, in the case of the first financial year of the External Oversight Body, means the period commencing on the establishment day and ending on 31 December in the year in which the establishment day falls. | ||
Establishment day | ||
320. The Minister shall by order appoint a day to be the establishment day for the purposes of this Part. | ||
Comhlacht Formhaoirsithe Seachtrach Óglaigh na hÉireann | ||
321. (1) There shall stand established on the establishment day a body to be known as Comhlacht Formhaoirsithe Seachtrach Óglaigh na hÉireann (in this Act referred to as the ‘External Oversight Body’) to perform the functions assigned to it by this Act or any other enactment. | ||
(2) The External Oversight Body shall have all such powers as are necessary or expedient for the performance of its functions. | ||
(3) The External Oversight Body shall be independent in the performance of its functions. | ||
(4) The Thirteenth Schedule shall apply to the External Oversight Body. | ||
Functions of External Oversight Body | ||
322. (1) The External Oversight Body shall oversee and monitor the management of human resources of the Defence Forces by the Defence Forces and for those purposes— | ||
(a) shall provide such advice to the Minister on matters arising as the External Oversight Body considers appropriate, | ||
(b) shall, when requested by the Minister, or may, on its own initiative, conduct a review and make such recommendations to the Minister, for consideration, as it considers appropriate, | ||
(c) shall furnish to the Minister, in such format as he or she may require, such information as the Minister may from time to time require, and | ||
(d) shall keep the Minister informed of relevant matters. | ||
(2) In this section, ‘management of human resources of the Defence Forces’ includes— | ||
(a) the recruitment of members of the Defence Forces, | ||
(b) the induction, training (other than military training exercises), education and performance management of members of the Defence Forces, | ||
(c) the operation of a competition process for the promotion of members of the Defence Forces, | ||
(d) the operation of a complaint or grievance process by or under section 114, | ||
(e) the preparation and issue of guidance documents by the Defence Forces relating to the management of human resources, and | ||
(f) any other matter that might reasonably be connected to the management of human resources of the Defence Forces. | ||
Membership of External Oversight Body | ||
323. (1) The External Oversight Body shall consist of no fewer than 7 members and no greater than 9 members being— | ||
(a) a chairperson, | ||
(b) no fewer than 5 and no greater than 7 ordinary members, and | ||
(c) the Secretary General of the Department of Defence who shall be an ex officio member. | ||
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (11), the members of the External Oversight Body referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) shall be appointed by the Minister. | ||
(3) Of the persons appointed under paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) to be members of the External Oversight Body— | ||
(a) at least 1 person shall, in the opinion of the Minister, have sufficient experience and expertise relating to the functions of the External Oversight Body, | ||
(b) at least 1 person shall, in the opinion of the Minister, have sufficient experience and expertise relating to organisational governance, management or public administration, | ||
(c) at least 1 person shall, in the opinion of the Minister, have sufficient experience and expertise relating to the financial matters including the allocation, management of and accountability for the effective use of financial resources, and | ||
(d) at least 1 person shall, in the opinion of the Minister, have sufficient direct leadership experience of military transformation in another jurisdiction. | ||
(4) The Minister shall, in so far as is practicable, endeavour to ensure that among the members of the External Oversight Body there is an equitable balance between men and women. | ||
(5) Subject to subsections (6) and (7), the chairperson of the External Oversight Body shall be appointed by the Minister from among the members of the External Oversight Body. | ||
(6) The Minister may, before the establishment day of the External Oversight Body, designate a person to be appointed as the first chairperson of the External Oversight Body. | ||
(7) The person appointed (or designated under subsection (6)) as chairperson of the External Oversight Body shall not have served as a member of the Defence Forces or as a member of the defence forces of a state other than the State. | ||
(8) If, immediately before the establishment day, a person stands designated under subsection (6), the person shall, on that day, stand appointed as the first chairperson of the External Oversight Body. | ||
(9) The Minister may, before the establishment day, designate persons to be appointed as the first ordinary members of the External Oversight Body. | ||
(10) Where, immediately before the establishment day, a person stands designated under subsection (9), the person shall, on that day, stand appointed as an ordinary member of the External Oversight Body. | ||
(11) Subsections (2) and (3) shall not apply in respect of— | ||
(a) the designation of a person as the first chairperson of the External Oversight Body under subsection (6), and | ||
(b) the designation of persons as the first ordinary members of the External Oversight Body under subsection (9). | ||
(12) Subject to section 329(7), the External Oversight Body may act notwithstanding one or more than one vacancy in its membership. | ||
Consultation in respect of certain appointments | ||
324. (1) The Minister may, prior to— | ||
(a) the commencement of a process for the selection of a person for appointment under section 12, or | ||
(b) the holding of a competition in any other case, as the case may be, | ||
consult with the External Oversight Body regarding the selection criteria and recruitment process applicable in respect of— | ||
(i) an appointment under section 12, | ||
(ii) a promotion under section 45 to the rank of Brigadier-General, | ||
(iii) an appointment of a civil servant (within the meaning of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 ) to work directly with the Defence Forces, or | ||
(iv) the employment of a civilian under section 30(1)(g). | ||
(2) In subsection (1)— | ||
(a) a reference to a civil servant means a civil servant not below the rank of principal officer, and | ||
(b) a reference to a civilian means a civilian holding a position with a salary no lower than the first point of the salary scale of a person holding the rank of principal officer in the civil service. | ||
Power of External Oversight Body to request information | ||
325. (1) Where, in the opinion of the External Oversight Body, the Chief of Staff possesses information or possesses or controls a document or thing that is relevant to the performance by the External Oversight Body of its functions, the External Oversight Body may request in writing the Chief of Staff— | ||
(a) to give to the External Oversight Body such information, document or thing, and | ||
(b) where appropriate, to attend a meeting with the External Oversight Body. | ||
(2) Where the External Oversight Body makes a request of the Chief of Staff under subsection (1), the Chief of Staff— | ||
(a) shall, subject to subsection (3), as soon as practicable comply with the request, and | ||
(b) may, where he or she believes that it would be of assistance to the External Oversight Body, request that any of the following persons accompany him or her to attend the meeting with the External Oversight Body: | ||
(i) an officer of the Permanent Defence Force not below the army rank of colonel or the equivalent naval rank; | ||
(ii) a civil servant (within the meaning of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 ) not below the rank of principal officer who works directly with the Defence Forces. | ||
(iii) a civilian employed under section 30(1)(g) holding a position with a salary no lower than the first point of the salary scale of a person holding the rank of principal officer in the civil service. | ||
(3) The Chief of Staff may, upon receipt of a request under subsection (1), withhold or redact any information, document or thing, where in the opinion of the Chief of Staff, the giving of such information, document or thing may affect adversely— | ||
(a) an ongoing investigation under Part V or an ongoing proceeding before a court-martial, | ||
(b) the security of the State, | ||
(c) the defence of the State, | ||
(d) matters relating to Northern Ireland, or | ||
(e) international relations of the State. | ||
(4) Where the Chief of Staff is of the opinion that subsection (3) applies in relation to a request made of him or her, the Chief of Staff shall so notify the External Oversight Body in writing. | ||
(5) The Chief of Staff shall, upon receipt of a request under subsection (1), redact all personal data (within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 20161 ) to which that request relates from the information, document or thing concerned before giving that information, document or thing to the External Oversight Body. | ||
Terms of appointment and conditions of office of members of External Oversight Body | ||
326. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a member, other than the ex officio member, of the External Oversight Body shall hold office, unless the member sooner dies, resigns, becomes disqualified or is removed from office, for such period, not exceeding 4 years from the date of his or her appointment, as the Minister shall determine. | ||
(2) Of the ordinary members of the External Oversight Body who are first appointed under this Act— | ||
(a) 3 members shall hold office for a period of 4 years from the date of their respective appointments as such ordinary members, and | ||
(b) the remaining members shall hold office for a period of 3 years from the date of their respective appointments as such ordinary members. | ||
(3) Subject to subsection (4), a member of the External Oversight Body whose term of office expires by the effluxion of time shall be eligible for reappointment to the External Oversight Body. | ||
(4) A person who is reappointed by the Minister to the External Oversight Body in accordance with subsection (3) shall not hold office for consecutive periods of more than 8 years. | ||
(5) The chairperson and ordinary members of the External Oversight Body shall hold office on such terms and conditions (including terms and conditions relating to remuneration and allowances for expenses) as may be determined by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, at the time of appointment or reappointment, and be paid out of moneys at the disposal of the External Oversight Body. | ||
(6) A member of the External Oversight Body may resign from office by notice in writing addressed to the Minister and the resignation shall take effect on the date the Minister receives the notice, or, if a date is specified in the notice and the Minister agrees to that date, on that date. | ||
Removal of member of External Oversight Body | ||
327. (1) The Minister may remove a member of the External Oversight Body from office where he or she is satisfied that one or more of the grounds specified in subsection (2) apply in respect of the member. | ||
(2) The following grounds are specified for the purposes of subsection (1): | ||
(a) the member has, without reasonable excuse, failed to discharge his or her functions; | ||
(b) the member has become incapable through ill-health or otherwise of effectively performing his or her functions; | ||
(c) the member has committed stated misbehaviour; | ||
(d) the member has a conflict of interest of such significance that he or she should cease to hold office; | ||
(e) the member is otherwise unfit to hold the office or unable to discharge his or her functions. | ||
(3) Where the Minister proposes to remove a member of the External Oversight Body pursuant to subsection (1), he or she shall notify, or cause to be notified, the member concerned in writing of the proposal. | ||
(4) A notification under subsection (3) shall include— | ||
(a) a statement of the reasons for the proposal, | ||
(b) a statement that the member of the External Oversight Body concerned may, within 30 working days of the sending of the notification or such longer period as the Minister may specify, make representations in such manner as may be specified in the notification to the Minister as to why he or she should not be removed from office, and | ||
(c) a statement that, where no representations are received within the period specified under paragraph (b), the Minister may, without further notice, proceed with the removal of the member of the External Oversight Body from office in accordance with this section. | ||
(5) The Minister shall, in considering whether to remove a member of the External Oversight Body from office in accordance with this section, take into account— | ||
(a) any representations made in accordance with subsection (4)(b), and | ||
(b) any other matters that the Minister considers relevant for the purposes of the decision. | ||
(6) Where, having taken into account the representations (if any) and matters referred to in subsection (5), the Minister decides to remove the member of the External Oversight Body from office, he or she shall notify that member in writing of the decision and of the reasons for it. | ||
Committees of External Oversight Body | ||
328. (1) The External Oversight Body may establish such and so many committees as it thinks fit to assist and advise it in relation to the performance of any or all of its functions under this Act or any other enactment. | ||
(2) A committee— | ||
(a) shall consist of such number of members of the External Oversight Body as the External Oversight Body may determine, | ||
(b) may include any number of civil servants (within the meaning of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 ) assigned to the External Oversight Body under section 330 as the External Oversight Body may determine, and | ||
(c) may, subject to paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Thirteenth Schedule, include persons who are not members of the External Oversight Body. | ||
(3) In appointing the members of a committee, the External Oversight Body shall have regard to— | ||
(a) the range of qualifications and experience necessary for the proper and effective performance of the functions of the committee, and | ||
(b) the desirability of there being an equitable balance between men and women on the committee. | ||
(4) The chairperson of a committee shall be appointed by the External Oversight Body from among the members of the committee. | ||
(5) A member of a committee may be removed from office at any time by the External Oversight Body for stated reasons. | ||
(6) The External Oversight Body may determine the terms of reference and regulate the procedure of a committee. | ||
(7) The acts of a committee shall be subject to confirmation by the External Oversight Body unless the External Oversight Body otherwise determines. | ||
(8) A committee shall provide the External Oversight Body with such information as the External Oversight Body may from time to time require, in respect of the committee’s activities and operations, for the purposes of the performance by the External Oversight Body of its functions. | ||
(9) The External Oversight Body may at any time dissolve a committee. | ||
(10) A committee may act notwithstanding one or more than one vacancy in its membership. | ||
Meetings and business of External Oversight Body | ||
329. (1) The External Oversight Body shall hold such and so many meetings, which shall be no less than 6 meetings in every 12 month period, as may be necessary for the performance of its functions. | ||
(2) The chairperson of the External Oversight Body shall fix the date, time and place of the first meeting of the External Oversight Body which shall be a date no later than the end of the period of 3 months beginning on the establishment day. | ||
(3) The chairperson of the External Oversight Body may call a meeting of the External Oversight Body to be held at any reasonable time. | ||
(4) Any 4 members of the External Oversight Body may call a meeting of the External Oversight Body where the chairperson— | ||
(a) refuses to call a meeting after being presented with a request for that purpose signed by not fewer than 4 members of the External Oversight Body, or | ||
(b) without refusing to call a meeting, does not call one within 7 days after being presented with a request under paragraph (a). | ||
(5) The members present at a meeting called under subsection (4) shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting. | ||
(6) At a meeting of the External Oversight Body— | ||
(a) the chairperson of the External Oversight Body shall, where present, chair the meeting, or | ||
(b) where and so long as the chairperson of the External Oversight Body is not present or where that office is vacant, the other members of the External Oversight Body who are present shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting. | ||
(7) The quorum for a meeting of the External Oversight Body shall— | ||
(a) where subsection (4) applies, be 3 members and the member chosen under subsection (5) to chair the meeting, | ||
(b) where paragraph (b) of subsection (6) applies, be 3 members and the member chosen under the said paragraph (b) to chair the meeting, and | ||
(c) in any other case, be 4 members and the chairperson of the External Oversight Body. | ||
(8) Each member of the External Oversight Body present at a meeting of the External Oversight Body shall have a vote. | ||
(9) Every question at a meeting of the External Oversight Body on which a vote is required shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members of the External Oversight Body present and voting on the question and, in the case of an equal division of votes, the chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. | ||
(10) In addition to a meeting with all participants physically present, the External Oversight Body may hold or continue a meeting by the use of any means of communication by which all the participants can hear and be heard at the same time (in this section referred to as a ‘remote meeting’). | ||
(11) A member of the External Oversight Body who participates in a remote meeting is taken for all purposes to have been present at the meeting. | ||
(12) Subject to this Part, the External Oversight Body may determine its own procedures. | ||
Staff and premises of External Oversight Body | ||
330. (1) The Minister shall assign to the External Oversight Body such and so many staff as he or she considers appropriate for the discharge by the External Oversight Body of its functions. | ||
(2) A member of staff assigned to the External Oversight Body shall be a civil servant (within the meaning of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 ). | ||
(3) The Minister shall, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, provide the External Oversight Body with appropriate premises in which to perform its functions. | ||
Power of External Oversight Body to enter into contracts and engage consultants and advisers | ||
331. (1) The External Oversight Body, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, may— | ||
(a) engage such consultants or advisers as the External Oversight Body considers necessary to assist in the performance of its functions, and | ||
(b) enter into a contract with any person or body concerning any matter arising in relation to its functions. | ||
(2) There shall be paid out of the resources at the disposal of the External Oversight Body, to consultants, advisers, persons or bodies referred to in subsection (1), such fees (if any) or allowances for expenses (if any) incurred by the consultant, adviser, person or body, as the case may be, as the External Oversight Body, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, may determine. | ||
(3) The engagement of a consultant or adviser under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and a contract under paragraph (b) of that subsection shall be for such period and on such terms and conditions as the External Oversight Body may determine. | ||
Strategy statement for External Oversight Body | ||
332. (1) The External Oversight Body shall— | ||
(a) as soon as practicable after the establishment day prepare and submit to the Minister a strategy statement in respect of the period of 3 years immediately following the year in which the strategy statement is so submitted, and | ||
(b) during the period of 6 months before the expiry of the period of 3 years to which the statement of strategy for the time being in effect applies, prepare and submit to the Minister a statement of strategy in respect of the period of 3 years immediately following the year in which the first-mentioned statement of strategy expires. | ||
(2) A strategy statement under this section shall include— | ||
(a) the key objectives, outputs and related strategies, including the use of resources, of the External Oversight Body in relation to the period to which the statement relates, and | ||
(b) except in the case of the strategy statement first prepared under this section, a review and an evaluation of the work of the External Oversight Body in the performance of its functions in the previous 3 years. | ||
(3) In preparing a strategy statement under this section, the External Oversight Body shall have regard to— | ||
(a) the need to ensure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of the resources available to it, and | ||
(b) the policies of the Government or any Minister of the Government to the extent that those policies may affect or relate to the functions of the External Oversight Body. | ||
(4) The External Oversight Body shall, before submitting a strategy statement to the Minister under subsection (1)— | ||
(a) publish, in such manner as the External Oversight Body considers appropriate, a draft of the strategy statement, | ||
(b) allow persons 30 days from the date of publication under paragraph (a) within which to make representations in writing to the External Oversight Body with regard to the draft of the strategy statement, and | ||
(c) having considered the representations (if any) made pursuant to paragraph (b), submit the strategy statement to the Minister with or without modifications. | ||
(5) The Minister shall cause a strategy statement received by him or her under subsection (1) to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after it is received. | ||
(6) The External Oversight Body shall ensure that, as soon as practicable after the strategy statement is laid before each House of the Oireachtas, the strategy statement is published on a website maintained by or on behalf of the External Oversight Body or in such other manner as the External Oversight Body considers appropriate. | ||
Annual report of External Oversight Body | ||
333. (1) The External Oversight Body shall, not later than 3 months after the end of each year, prepare and submit to the Minister a report on its activities during the preceding year. | ||
(2) If, under subsection (1), the first annual report would relate to a period of less than 6 months, that report shall, notwithstanding that subsection, instead relate to the performance of the functions of the External Oversight Body during that period and the year immediately following that period and the External Oversight Body shall prepare, and submit to the Minister, that first annual report as soon as may be, but not later than 3 months, after the end of that year. | ||
(3) A report referred to in subsection (1) shall include a statement of the arrangements of the External Oversight Body for operating according to standards of good governance. | ||
(4) The Minister shall cause a copy of a report referred to in subsection (1) to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after he or she receives the report. | ||
(5) The External Oversight Body shall ensure that, as soon as practicable after a copy of a report under this section is laid before each House of the Oireachtas, the report is published on a website maintained by or on behalf of the External Oversight Body or in such other manner as the External Oversight Body considers appropriate. | ||
Grants paid by Minister to External Oversight Body | ||
334. In each financial year, the Minister may, after consultation with the External Oversight Body, advance to the External Oversight Body out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas such sums as appear to the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, to be reasonably sufficient for the purposes of expenditure by the External Oversight Body in the performance of its functions. | ||
Accounts of External Oversight Body | ||
335. (1) The External Oversight Body shall keep, or cause to be kept, in such form as may be approved by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, all proper and usual accounts of all money received or expended by it and, in particular, shall keep in such form as may be approved by the Minister all such special accounts (if any) as the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, from time to time direct. | ||
(2) Accounts kept in accordance with subsection (1) shall be submitted, not later than 1 April in the year immediately following the financial year to which they relate or on such earlier date as the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, may direct, to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit and, immediately after the audit, a copy of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on the accounts shall be presented to the Minister who shall, as soon as may be after they are so presented, cause copies thereof to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.”. | ||