Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The day-to-day administration of recruitment to the Defence Forces is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. One can enter the Permanent Defence Force through the cadetship competition, the apprenticeship competition, the general service enlistment process or the direct entry competitions which are held to fill vacancies in specialist areas. If an unsuccessful applicant reapplies for a position in the Permanent Defence Force, he or she will be considered within the normal eligibility criteria. The number of applications received each year for positions in the Permanent Defence Force usually far exceeds the number of positions available annually. The nature of the recruitment process, which includes a competitive interview, means that many applicants who meet the eligibility criteria are not successful.

I intend to maintain the Government's established policy of providing for ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Continued recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will maintain its strength at the level set out in the White Paper as being necessary to meet military needs — 10,500 Permanent Defence Force members at all ranks. Information on careers in the Defence Forces can be obtained on their website, www.military.ie.

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