Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a review under way now on what the impact has been on recruitment to the Naval Service because of the decision to waive the psychometric test. It was felt that it was a bit early to do it a couple of months after its introduction. The concern I had, and the concern we still have, is that quite a significant number of people apply to join the Defence Forces. Okay, we might say that people online indicate an interest in joining, but one cannot expect 100% to follow through. However, the conversion rate of those who indicate an interest in joining and the actual numbers who join is too low in our view. I made this point to the military leadership. The Department of Defence was working on this. We brought in a media consultancy group to look at the entire recruitment processes within our Defence Forces.

The group came forward with strong recommendations to significantly change how we recruit into the Defence Forces.

On the physical training, the chief told me they have changed that somewhat whereby they give latitude to somebody to come up to a standard-----