Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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530. To ask the Minister for Defence the reason persons with any history of a psychiatric illness cannot join the Irish Defence Forces; his views that this discriminates against those who may have had mental health issues; the reason persons who are refused entry on these grounds are not offered the opportunity of an independent psychological assessment; his plans to change this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33134/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces are committed to the principles of equal opportunity in all employment policies, procedures and regulations. The Defence Forces operate in an environment which is free from discrimination as provided for by the Equality Acts. However, the Defence Forces have a derogation from the provisions of the Employment Equality Acts, 1998 to 2011 in respect of criteria of disability and age. Accordingly, recruitment criteria based on physiological and age requirements are permitted by legislation. Similar derogations apply to An Garda Síochána and the Prison Service.

All applicants for recruitment to the Defence Forces are required to undergo a medical examination, the purpose of which is to detect conditions which could interfere with a candidate’s ability to perform the duties expected of them in the future. It is also a review of their past medical history in order to determine whether there is evidence of any condition, though dormant at the time of examination, which could be precipitated again by the robust nature of life in the Permanent Defence Force, with all its associated stresses.

Medical evidence reveals that a history of a psychiatric illness may be of a recurring nature. The employer in taking on an individual with a history of psychiatric illness incurs an additional duty of care to ensure the individual is not exposed within the work environment to any factor which could precipitate a recurrence of the condition. This imposes restrictions on the employer with regard to placements which would not be appropriate in the context of military service, which can be both physically and mentally demanding. Physical and medical standards for entry to the Permanent Defence Force are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and have regard to the challenging nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by members of the Permanent Defence Force. I am advised by the Military Authorities that within the context of the operational needs and demands of the Defence Forces, that medical decisions are arrived at with the well being of the candidate being the primary concern.

All potential recruits are advised when they are called for their medical examination that they can bring relevant medical reports to their medical examination if they so wish. I am satisfied with the current recruitment arrangements in the Permanent Defence Force and I have no plans to change them.