Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of applications he has received from immigrants to join the officer corps of the Defence Forces since he changed the rules in 2005 to facilitate immigrants in the Defence Forces; the number of such applicants that proceeded to join the Defence Forces; the efforts he is making to encourage recruits from immigrant communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23788/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The question of the recruitment of foreign-nationals to the Defence Forces is not a new one and Defence Force Regulations have always allowed for the recruitment of foreign-nationals to the Defence Forces.

The Cadet Competition is the entry level for recruitment as an Officer of the Defence Forces. I have made changes to the 2006 Cadet competition to broaden the entry criteria thereby making it easier for qualifying foreign nationals to apply for cadetships.

I am advised by the military authorities that 46 non-Irish Nationals applied for the Cadetship Competition 2006. Of these, 10 failed residency qualifications and were not called for interview. Of the 36 called to attend for interview, 29 failed to report, were un-contactable or withdrew their application. In total 7 attended for interview, of which 3 are through to the next stage of the competition. The Cadet Competition will not be finalised until after the Leaving Certificate results have been published in mid-August, 2006.

The Defence Forces Equality Policy, formalised recently, underpins equality legislation and states that:

∙The Defence Forces are committed to the principles of equal opportunities in all employment policies, procedures and regulations. The Defence Forces will operate in an environment without discrimination in areas as provided by the Equality Acts.

∙The Defence Forces will ensure that the principles of employment equality are employed in recruitment, promotion, training and work experience.

∙All regulations and Administrative Instructions concerning service in the Defence Forces shall be set out in a manner consistent with this policy of equal opportunity.

∙This policy will be reviewed along with the Defence Force regulations on an ongoing basis by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) to ensure compliance with best practice and to maintain a working environment that treats all members of the Defence Forces in a manner consistent with equal opportunities.

The primary focus in recruitment is to attract people with the core competencies required by the Defence Forces.

My Department and the Defence Forces are fully committed to ensuring that all (and that includes ethnic minorities and foreign-nationals) who wish to do so are given the opportunity to join the Defence Forces.