Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 8: To ask the Minister for Defence the way in which he intends to attract more females into the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25623/05]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 11: To ask the Minister for Defence the efforts he has made to encourage more women to join the military and Defence Forces; if he has reviewed the measures in place to maximise the number of women applicants to the Defence Forces; the number of women serving in the Defence Forces for the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25928/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 32: To ask the Minister for Defence the way in which he intends to attract more females into the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25629/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 11 and 32 together.

The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women in the Defence Forces, Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, including the Reserve Defence Force, and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. In effect that means that women are eligible on the same basis as men for participation in operational and ceremonial activities, for assignment to all military appointments and educational and training courses, and for promotion. All female personnel undergo the same training and receive the same military education as their male counterparts.

To encourage increased participation by women in the Defence Forces, my predecessor decided in March 1998 to reduce the height requirement for all female recruits to 162.5 cm, or 5 ft. 4 in. That height requirement now also applies to male recruits. The Defence Forces actively encourages female applicants, for example, by advertising. Where possible, all graphical advertisements and booklets produced for the Defence Forces show both male and female personnel and emphasise that all applicants are assessed on an equal basis. Stands at recruiting fairs are generally staffed by male and female personnel. When the Defence Forces are invited to give talks at all-female or mixed schools, every effort is made to have a female speaker.

The strength of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force grew from 244 at the end of 1997 to 524 at the end of August 2005. That constitutes an increase of over 100% in the number of females serving over the period. On 5 August 2005, I wrote to both the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, along with a number of outside organisations, seeking their views and recommendations on how more women might be encouraged to enlist in the Defence Forces. I hope to have replies by the end of this month.

When the submissions have been received and examined, I propose that officials, both civil and military, of my Department meet representatives of each of the organisations that made submissions, along with the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, to consider the ideas and suggestions to see what, if any, improvements or changes can be made to the programme of recruitment to encourage more females to join the Defence Forces.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Minister have any idea why it is difficult to attract females to join the Defence Forces? He mentioned height, which is an old bugbear of mine. If I understood him correctly, the requirement is now 5 ft. 4 in. for both males and females.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Yes.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does he agree that, in view of the fact that the average height of a woman is less than that of a man, a greater proportion of women are disqualified from joining the Defence Forces?

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister appealed for more women to join the Army. Did he do so mainly to be politically correct? He claims that a great deal has been done to encourage women into the Defence Forces, but can he expand that to say what specific initiatives have been taken in the 12 months since he assumed office?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To be honest, I do not know the answer to Deputy Timmins's question. I do not know why women do not see it as the job for them. Traditionally, that has been the case, and fortunately we are trying to change that. I take the Deputy's point about height. As he knows, the Garda Síochána has got rid of the height requirement and instead introduced one for physical fitness. To the best of my knowledge, that has been the case for the last few years. I have asked the military about this. I believe that the United States has a lower limit of 4 ft. 10 in. and Australia 5 ft.

There was a time in Ireland when the lower limit for male recruits was under 5 ft. I have asked the Army about that. One of the problems is health and safety. The Army received medical advice that females in particular, but also men under a certain height, because of some of the gear that they have to wear, especially when abroad, are more likely to be damaged by the physical activity in which they are forced to engage as part of their duties in the Army. That is being kept under constant review, and I have asked the military to report to me on it.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Limerick College has been researching it.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Regarding Deputy Sherlock's question, I am not being politically correct. Put bluntly, half the population are women, but only 5% of those in the Army or the Naval Service, and fewer than 5% of those in the Air Corps are. Women should be allowed to play their part.