Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Initiatives established in 2014-2015 continue to be developed through active engagement with organisations such as the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, GLEN, in order to promote the Defence Forces as an employer. This engagement will include an external audit of the Defence Forces by GLEN in terms of organisational culture and diversity in 2017. In addition, work is well progressed on a Defence Forces equality and diversity policy encompassing gender and equality issues, which I plan to publish in the near future.

I am aware of the need to give females every opportunity to join the Defence Forces. I already indicated that the 2016 general service recruitment campaign was designed specially to target females through increased engagement in recruitment processes and competition advertising. This included specific provisions in social media and digital advertising, targeted advertising and the introduction of a female information programme. I can assure Deputy Ryan I am aware of female members of the Defence Forces visiting girl schools across the country to attract female recruits.

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