Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Defence if there has been an increase in the number of female applicants to the Defence Forces since the reduction in the height requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32354/06]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Defence the details of the new campaign to attract more women into the Defence Forces; his views on the comparatively low number of women in the Defence Forces; his views on whether the change in the height restriction for joining the Defence Forces will attract more women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32180/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 65 together.

I am keen to increase the number of women applying to join our Defence Forces. To facilitate this, with effect from 1 September 2006, I reduced the minimum height requirement for entry into both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force from 162.56 cm, 5'4", to 157.48 cm, 5'2". This change, which applies to both males and females, has the effect of increasing the annual recruitment pool of females from 60% to 90% and males from 97% to 98%. It is too early to gauge whether there has been a corresponding increase in the number of female applicants to the Defence Forces. However, I will closely monitor the situation in the coming months.

Height is not the only issue in encouraging more women to apply to join the Defence Forces and I have recently initiated more general research in this area. Following a tendering process TNS mrbi, an independent market research company, was awarded the contract to undertake research into the issue of recruitment and retention of women in the Defence Forces. The research will test women's attitudes to military life and a career in the Defence Forces. The research, which has commenced, will include interviews with serving female members of the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force and members of the public. The results of the research will inform policy in this area for the future.

The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women in the Defence Forces, including the Army, the Air Corps, the Naval Service and the Reserve Defence Force, and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. Women are eligible, on the same basis as men, for participation in operational and ceremonial activities, for assignment to all military appointments, for educational and training courses and for promotion. All female personnel undergo the same training and receive the same military education as their male counterparts. When considering how to encourage more female personnel to the Defence Forces it is important to bear this in mind.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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When will this report be available? The Minister requested the Department of Education and Science and other groups to send in information on the reluctance of females to apply to join the Defence Forces. Is that material available?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ministers always say this when they do not want to answer a question but I am glad Deputy Timmins asked me that question.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Did he place the material in the Oireachtas library this morning?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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No, I want to enlighten Deputy Timmins. The research will be available in eight weeks' time.

Regarding the second question, the Department wrote to a list of organisations and I was disappointed with the response. The only group to respond with concrete proposals was, believe it or not, the ICA.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Was there a response from the Minister for Education and Science?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am surprised at the Minister for Education and Science. I will have to take it up with her.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Other groups wished us well and thought it was a good idea. The Department also invited submissions from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, and have not had a response from either.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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When were these proposals sought? Is there still time for groups to respond?

How many women are working in the Defence Forces at present? Will the Minister explain why the number is so low, apart from height restrictions?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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We sought proposals in the middle of last year. Most groups, apart from PDFORRA and RACO, responded but the responses did not advance the cause. A response that congratulates us on the idea is very different from one with concrete suggestions.

I propose to issue a tabular statement on the number of women working in the Defence Forces. The latest figures available show 9,837 males in the Defence Forces and 545 females. The position is somewhat better in the reserve, with 7,141 males and 2,433 females. Only 60% of females over 18 years of age were eligible to apply before the height requirement was reduced, making 90% now eligible. Misunderstandings exist in the female population about life in the Army despite the best efforts of recruiting officials in the Defence Forces. They produced literature and visited schools to explain what an attractive life it is.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is like politics.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The number of females applying has increased. Some 5% to 6% of the Army is female, but last year 9.5% of applicants were female and 10.5% of recruits were female. The number recruited is proportionate to the number applying. We are trying to increase the number of females applying by increasing the pool from 60% to 90% and by carrying out research to determine what other measures must be implemented to make the Army more attractive to females.

Some 25% of members of the reserve are female while the figure for the Permanent Defence Force is 6%. The same rules apply to the reserve and the Permanent Defence Force. The height restrictions for both have been reduced.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Minister's decision to reduce height restrictions is welcome. I fought for this for many years because the restrictions mitigated against females disproportionately. The Minister has referred to other issues that discourage females from joining. It is more than a year since he wrote to various organisations and the response is disappointing. These organisations have expertise in various areas, yet the State must spend money on researching information that should be forthcoming from them. The Minister's officials work very hard but I would appreciate if the Minister would provide Opposition spokespersons with a copy of the initial letter and the responses he received.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I do not see any objection to that and will discuss it with my officials. I intended to commission research in any case and had sought Government approval for it. The responses provided no new ideas and this disappointed me, in view of the range of organisations contacted.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Height restrictions are the same in the reserve as in the Permanent Defence Force, yet the number of women joining the reserve is five times the number joining the Permanent Defence Force. It would appear the reasons women are not joining the Permanent Defence Forces are much deeper than simple issues of height. There must be serious matters that make the Permanent Defence Force an unattractive option for women. I agree that the Minister should invite further submissions and perhaps give the various spokespersons a package with material that could be distributed to schools.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I look forward to discovering the results of the research. I wrote to the organisations and asked for their suggestions on how to attract more women into the Defence Forces. The research will go deeper than this aspect. Women who have served in the Defence Forces will be interviewed about their experience of life there and women who have not served in the Defence Forces will be interviewed about their perceptions of life in the Defence Forces. Both perceptions and experiences will be compared. It will be an interesting report, which I expect to receive in approximately eight weeks. I have no difficulty with publishing it. If Deputy Costello believes it is a good idea to write to the various organisations, I have no difficulty with sending them a reminder.