Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

384. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the percentage of female recruits in the Defence Forces that progress to the upper ranks of Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. [25622/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The attached table shows the female strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31st August 2020, the latest date for which such data is available, broken down by ranks, service and gender. The Military Authorities have advised that the data to provide a percentage figure of those female recruits who progress to upper ranks throughout their career in the Defence Forces is not available.

The Defence Forces are an inclusive, equal opportunity organisation that encourages participation of women at all levels. All promotion competitions are merit based and the gender of the candidate plays no role in the selection process. They are competency based competitions and require candidates to meet qualifying criteria as laid down in promotion agreements.

The Defence Forces are committed to promoting equality in all aspects of their work and this is clearly set out in the Defence Forces Equality Policy, which commits to ensuring that the principles of equality are adhered to in all its employment policies, procedures, instructions and regulations.

The White Paper also includes further projects to ensure that the development and promotion of strategies that support female participation in the Defence Forces is continued.