Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 41: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on whether the height requirement is the sole obstacle to increasing the number of women applying to join the Defence Forces; if the height requirement for women is the same for the Reserve and Permanent Defence Forces; if he will commission research into the reason the percentage of women in the Reserve Defence Force is considerably higher than the percentage of women in the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11676/06]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 73: To ask the Minister for Defence if there will be an update to the regulations governing minimum height for entry to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11843/06]

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

Question 95: To ask the Minister for Defence when he proposes to change the height entry requirement for females into the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11865/06]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 98: To ask the Minister for Defence the height requirements for membership of the Defence Forces; if changes to these requirements are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11830/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 116: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to figures showing that Ireland's level of strength of women in the Defence Forces at 3% is well behind the 15% average throughout members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the 25% rate in the US military; when he will introduce new measures to encourage female recruitment to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11768/06]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 122: To ask the Minister for Defence the measures in place to encourage more women to join the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11824/06]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 73, 95, 98, 116 and 122 together.

Last July, while visiting Mellows Barracks in Galway, I spoke of my desire to see more women applying to join the Defence Forces. I indicated then that while much was already being done to encourage more women to apply, I intended to review the measures in place with a view to maximising the number of women applicants to the Defence Forces. At that time I pointed out that the number of females being enlisted each year is almost in direct proportion to the number applying, approximately 9%. An increase in the numbers applying should therefore be reflected in the numbers subsequently enlisted.

As I have already indicated to the House on a number of occasions, I commenced that review process on 5 August 2005 by writing 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 apply to enlist in the Defence Forces. All the replies have now been received, the last on 17 January 2006, and are being examined. Officials, both civil and military, of the Department of Defence will shortly meet with representatives of each of the organisations who made submissions along with the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA. These meetings will 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. I anticipate these meetings will take place over the coming weeks.

Since I raised this matter last July there has been considerable focus on the minimum height requirement. Indeed one of the submissions received in response to my letter of 5 August specifically called on me to abolish the height requirement. The current minimum height requirement for entry to both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force is 162.5 cm., or 5 ft. 4 in., for both men and women. It was set in April 2002 and is based on the professional advice of the medical corps and the experience of training units. The advice at that time was that, having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by members of the Defence Forces, persons of shorter stature are more likely to incur back and lower limb injuries. A key element in military life is the need for personnel to maintain a level of fitness for combat readiness. Inherent in this physical requirement is the ability to carry heavy loads and execute physically demanding tasks in training and on operations. The personal load carrying equipment and personal weapon place considerable weight on the musculoskeletal system.

As I indicated to the House on 29 September 2005 I have asked the military authorities to report to me on the height requirement and I will consider all aspects of the issue in light of that report. However the height requirement is only one element of the overall matter of how more women might be encouraged to join the Defence Forces. In this context it is important we examine the range of possible contributing factors. To that end I intend soon to commission research into women's attitudes to military life and a career in the Defence Forces. I envisage such research including interviews with currently serving female members of both the Permanent and the Reserve Defence Force. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women in the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force, and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome the Minister's commitment to undertake research. He cannot go further than those on the ground with first-hand experience. The figure of 5% is low in view of the 26% who are in the Reserve Defence Force. Where does Ireland stand compared to international figures? In view of the Minister's research how will he overcome the perception in the Defence Forces that the Army is not a place for a woman to seek a career?

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

Although the figure of 5% is low, it is in line with international experience. The figures have increased in some of the European states but not by much more than the Irish average. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of women applying to enlist in the Defence Forces. The percentage of women in the Defence Forces is almost directly proportional to the number that apply. In the past two or three years the average annual intake of female applicants has been in the order of 9% or 10%.

I agree it is not just a question of height because there is a range of other factors. The Garda Síochána recently got rid of the height requirement and introduced a physical fitness test instead. I have asked the military authorities to consider this matter in light of what the Garda has done. If I can establish an appropriate and medically suitable physical fitness test to replace or further reduce the existing height requirement, I will be glad to do so. I expect to have the military authorities' report on or before 1 June. We will therefore be in a position, before the Dáil rises for the summer recess, to see what further action can be taken in this regard.

The reports I received from the various organisations I contacted about the desirability of getting women to join the Defence Forces have been very good. A number of very useful suggestions have been made and I am sure further suggestions will be made, not only at the meetings we will have with the organisations and as a result of their interaction with PDFORRA and RACO, but also as a result of the research I am commissioning.

Getting rid of or reducing the height requirement and replacing it with an appropriate and medically suitable physical test and addressing other matters, such as women's perception of Army life and bullying, will give rise to a substantial increase in applications to join the Defence Forces. As the Deputy pointed out, while the number of females in the Permanent Defence Force amounts to only 5%, it is up to 26% in the Reserve Defence Force, in respect of which the same height requirement applies.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Minister know when his research will come to an end? He should act immediately to increase female representation in the Defence Forces.

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

As I stated, I hope to have the report from the military authorities before 1 June. I will shortly commission research. We are starting the process of meeting the various groups that have written to us and this process will be fully completed by the end of the summer at the latest.

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

I acknowledge the Minister's statement that changing the height requirement may not necessarily be the step that will result in a flood of female applications. He said that one submission referred to abolishing the height requirement and that there were other interesting suggestions. Will he share those with us?

Does the Minister agree that many other armies, including the US Army, have a far lower height requirement than that which obtains in Ireland and that there may be no medical basis for our height requirement? As I mentioned several times previously, a great number of females are precluded from joining the Defence Forces because their average height is less than that of men. The requirement is 5 ft. 4 in. for both males and females. Is there resistance from the Defence Forces to the reduction of the height requirement? One could make many cases for saying, the lower the height, the better, but I will not go into that.

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

On the first question, I have been written to on a confidential basis and will therefore not elaborate on the suggestions that have been made. They will emerge very shortly when RACO and PDFORRA talk to the organisations in question.

I have not come across an army with no height requirement but I am aware that others have much lower height requirements than ours. I perused the list some nights ago and noted that the US Army has a height requirement of 4 ft. 11 in., and we are certainly out of line with that. The military authorities have told me they received medical advice that it is dangerous, in view of the operational requirements of Irish troops and the loads they must carry, sometimes through jungles on foreign missions, for people under 5 ft. 4 in. to be engaged in such duties. I put it to them, however, that the United Kingdom and the United States do not expect their armies to do any less than we expect ours to do. I am informed that some armies — I am not quite sure which ones — do not expect the same commitment from their female recruits as we do but I hope we can establish a suitable physical fitness test to allow us, at a minimum, to reduce the height requirement, if not abolish it.

On Deputy Timmins's last point, there has been no resistance to reducing the required height. We have received full co-operation from the Army.

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

It is stated that the number of women in the Reserve Defence Force is higher than that in the Permanent Defence Force. Does the Minister propose to conduct an advertising campaign to appeal to women to join the Defence Forces on a permanent basis?

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

We already do that to a certain extent. It is safe to say, on looking at the suggestions of the various organisations, that we will be engaged in a more focused campaign aimed specifically at females.