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

Yes. At the moment we have approximately 559 women. We had approximately 7.4%. In the RDF there was approximately 13% and it is approximately 19% of civilian employees. We need to get that significantly up to international norms. A female-specific recruitment has been established to co-ordinate the attendance of tri-service female-specific recruiting teams at national and regional level. There is a broad-based approach to fitness testing.

There are now requirements tailored specifically for women. An emphasis has been placed on fitness test preparation, and induction fitness test videos are available for this. We are going to recruit a senior gender adviser into the Defence Forces. Gender diversity and unconscious bias training took place across all formations and services last year. As the Deputy knows, private secondary medical care was extended to enlisted personnel. This is particularly important because it will include private medical care during pregnancy for women members. The Defence Forces women's network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.