Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I will give the total figures. For female officers, there are 111 in the Army, five in the Air Corps and 23 in the Naval Service, giving a total of 139. For female non-commissioned officers, there are 145 in the Army, 15 in the Air Corps and nine in the Naval Service, giving a total of 169. For female privates and cadets, there are 194 privates and 12 cadets in the Army, 12 privates and one cadet in the Air Corps and 34 privates and six cadets in the Naval Service, giving a total of 240 privates and 19 cadets. There are two female officers in the rank of lieutenant-colonel, one of whom is currently serving in an acting capacity as colonel and filling the post as director of the Medical Corps.

All competitions for promotion within the Defence Forces are open to all qualified members, both male and female. The determining factor when deciding between candidates for promotion is their qualification for the post in question and gender is not a factor.

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