Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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109. To ask the Minister for Defence the reason the upper age limit for entry into the Defence Forces is 25 years; the way this compares to the practice in other European Union and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries; and if he will review the age limit and consider raising it to 30 years of age. [14993/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan both identified the requirement to address the age profile in the Defence Forces. A key element in military life is the need for personnel to maintain a level of fitness for combat readiness. This requirement must be balanced with the need to retain experience and expertise, particularly at managerial level in the Defence Forces.

The upper age limit for enlistment in the Army and Air Corps is under 25 years of age on the closing date for receipt of applications for enlistment, and for the Naval Service it is under 27 years of age on the closing date for receipt of applications for enlistment. The upper age limit for all Cadetships is under 28 years of age on the closing date for receipt of applications. These limits are determined on the basis that the essential functions of the Permanent Defence Force requires that its members be composed of able-bodied personnel of an age which is commensurate with the functional requirements of the organisation as a whole.

The Military Authorities have advised that these upper age limits have proven suitable for the requirem ents for a modern Defence Force which is actively involved in operations at home and on Peace Support Operations overseas. Other countries pursue a Defence policy that reflects their particular requirements and structure their Defence Forces accordingly. Some forces also operate different age profiles depending on particular roles involved.

I am satisfied that the existing upper age requirements for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force are appropriate and I do not propose to comment on the recruitment policies of other States who may operate different requirements.