Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have told the military my view on it. I would not be rushing to be a candidate. The Deputies make a fair point. The military authorities are keeping it under review.

In respect of the Naval Service, the military authorities have advised me of the position. I have made the point that the first thing you get when you press a button is a psychometric test. I am not convinced that is the best way to attract people into the military. I have said this. In any event, the Naval Service has advised that in addition to the number of applicants who do not undertake the psychometric tests, an analysis of Naval Service general service recruitment application figures showed 56% of candidates who undertook the psychometric testing element of the selection process failed it. It was therefore decided to pause psychometric testing on a pilot basis for Naval Service general service recruitment for six months with effect from 9 June 2023 to investigate its effect on recruitment induction numbers. I am not an expert on this, nor will I pretend to be, but I think it is an issue for inquiry. They will do an analysis of this revised approach after six months and that will be interesting.

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