Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

It is true that some armies, including the United States army, have significantly lower height requirements for entry than the Irish Army. However, the difference is that armies such as the United States army and the British army have a number of different divisions which are permitted to perform different tasks. Women do not have access to all activities whereas, uniquely, in the Irish Army, women are entitled to and are called on to perform the entire range of tasks performed by men. This is not the position in many other armies, especially those in which the height requirement is lower.

As for Deputy Timmins's request for a cut-off date, to the best of my knowledge, the Dáil will go into recess on 6 July. I promise that I will make the report available before 6 July and I will take a decision immediately afterwards.

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