Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Defence the steps being undertaken to attract more women into the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8695/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As you know, I am keen to increase the number of women applying to join our Defence Forces. To facilitate this, I have, with effect from 1st September 2006, reduced the minimum height requirement for entry into both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force from 162.56cm (5'4") to 157.48cm (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 over the coming months. I must point out that height is not the only issue in encouraging more women to apply to join the Defence Forces and I have initiated more general research in this area. To this end, 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 market research included interviews with currently serving female members of the Permanent Defence Force, former members of the Permanent Defence Force and members of the general public. The research methodology used incorporated both a qualitative and quantitative approach. The qualitative research approach encompassed a series of 28 in-depth interviews with key informants, including women currently in the Defence Forces (10), ex-members of the Defence Forces (3), school leavers (4), parents of school leavers (4), career guidance councillors (5), and representatives of the National Women's Council and the National Centre for Guidance in Education. The fieldwork was conducted from September to November 2006.

There were two quantitative phases undertaken. The first was a national survey of 522 females aged over 15 and the second was a survey of serving female PDF members. The national survey of females aged over 15 was conducted via telephone and is fully representative of the population. Quota controls were imposed for age, socio-economic class and region. The fieldwork for this aspect of the quantitative phase was conducted from 17th-26th October 2006.

The survey of all serving female PDF members was conducted between November 2006 and January 2007 via a self-completion questionnaire. The data was weighted by rank and location to reflect the population of serving females in the PDF. This report has been submitted to me and is currently being considered by officials from my Department. The results of this market research will assist in the formulation of policy and practice in this area for the future.

I must emphasise that 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, this 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.