Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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440. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made on the equality objectives of his Department specifically in relation to women. [11069/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department continues to operate in a non-discriminatory environment in accordance with the Equality Acts and aims to ensure that the principles of employment equality are implemented in recruitment, promotion, training and experience of the workplace. Recruitment of civil servants is carried out for the Department by the Public Appointments Service which undertakes recruitment underpinned by its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2021-2023.

The Department's policy is that all personnel be accorded equality of opportunity and treatment. Women make up 60% of the membership of the Management Board of the Department. In 2021, 36% of Principals and 51% of Assistant Principal Officer posts were held by women. Overall, 47% of staff at the grades of Assistant Principal and upwards were filled by women. A Defence Women's Network is in place to support the full participation and progression of women in the Department