Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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53. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of women serving in each branch of the Defence Forces; the number that have resigned and-or retired; the extent to which they have been replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38906/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out below:

Substantive strength of females in the Defence Forces as at 31 Aug 2019 -

The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. This is underlined by a commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces.

The participation by female personnel in all aspects of Defence Forces operations is further exemplified in the Defence Forces Equality Policy and the Defence Forces Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Statement and Action Plan, which outlines the Organisation’s commitment to gender equality and its proactive approaches to recruiting females.

Over the course of the White Paper on Defence 2015, which provides the current defence policy agenda over a ten year planning horizon, further initiatives and projects will be developed to encourage more women to apply for the Defence Forces and to increase female participation at all ranks.