Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I agree wholeheartedly and believe it is something we should strongly encourage.

With regard to the steps that have been taken to provide a supportive environment for Defence Forces members, the development and maintenance of a positive and supportive work environment is a key objective of the Defence Forces management. In recent years, a range of measures has been introduced, including the recommendations of the independent monitoring group as part of the modernisation agenda of the Defence Forces. Among the key steps taken are a charter committing all ranks to supporting a service environment that encourages and supports the right to dignity at work.

A major educational awareness programme is ongoing throughout the Defence Forces, backed up by a new administrative instruction on interpersonal relationships. Some 232 designated contact persons have been fully trained and are deployed throughout all Defence Forces posts and barracks, both countrywide and overseas. These designated contact persons facilitate the operation of the formal and informal procedures that may be used by any party wishing to institute a complaint, for example, an independent confidential freefone helpline and counselling service was set up for members of the Permanent Defence Force in March 2003.

Further review and implementation of the recommendations was conducted by the independent monitoring group and reported on in December 2008, with the group making in excess of 40 recommendations. The report confirms that the culture of the Defence forces organisation is evolving positively. It notes that organisational developments within the Defence Forces are a tribute to the vision and work of senior management and acknowledges the commitment and input of all personnel in affecting significant change.

As Deputy Deenihan rightly said, in 2006, the minimum height requirement for joining the Defence Forces was reduced from 5' 4" to 5' 2", which increased the potential recruitment pool of females from 60% to 90% of the female population. In 2007, the Department of Defence received a report from TNS-MRBI entitled "Retention and Recruitment of Women in the Defence Forces". This research was commissioned with a view to identifying areas where action could be taken to maximise the number of women applicants to the Defence Forces.

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