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

Deputy Moynihan made some very important points not only about culture but also about progression. That is an issue, without question, and the independent oversight group that has been appointed in respect of the IRG is looking at that issue, at the whole promotional system within the Defence Forces and how we can encourage more women in terms of promotion. Traditionally and historically, the system of promotion was negative towards women, without question. That has come across in any engagement with women within the Defence Forces. That has to change. Approaches to the career progression have to change also and have to be more broad-minded in attitude.

I would not accept the presentation made by RACO that we are overdoing recruitment at the expense of retention. We have to do both. The decision to make secondary health treatment available to all members of the Defence Forces for the first time is a retention measure. It is also a recruitment measure, but I would argue that it is a significant retention measure in addition to other measures we have taken, such as improving the basic rates at which people are paid when they become officers or members of the Defence Forces more generally. We are not prioritising one over the other; we are working on both. They are not that costly, given what we have to do.

Deputy Stanton asked a fair question. We need to do a deeper-dive analysis on that matter.

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