Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I do not have figures pertaining to the number of people who make second applications. I can get that information for the Deputy. As of 2 March last, some 1,154 applications had been made to join the Defence Forces. Just 66 of those applications were found to be unsuitable. If one's application is deemed to be unsuitable, one does not get past first base. One might be deemed unsuitable for any of three reasons. One might not reach the specific height requirement of 5 ft. 2 in., one might not meet the prescribed medical or fitness standards or one might not get the necessary security clearance. A small proportion — between a quarter and a third — of those who are deemed to be suitable under those three categories are then successful following the competitive interview process. There are many applicants for every available position in the Army.

The question of unsuitability arises when candidates do not meet the height requirement, do not pass the physical test or do not get security clearance. If candidates do not meet any one of those criteria, they will not be successful. If one receives correspondence telling one that one has been deemed to be unsuitable, or if one is not selected following the interview process, one can ask for further feedback. If one contacts the barracks to which one applied in the first instance, one will be given the feedback that the authorities are allowed to supply. If one has been rejected in the past on the basis of a lack of suitability, but one now feels one meets the relevant criteria because something has changed for some reason, of course one can reapply — there is no problem about that.

See this speech in context