John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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346. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces, by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10846/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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347. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of women in the Defence Forces who are currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10847/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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348. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of women members of the Defence Forces who have left this year, by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10848/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 to 348, inclusive, together.

As at 31 January 2023, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 563 whole time equivalent female members of the Permanent Defence Force out of a total WTE strength of 7,959. On the same date, 27 female members were serving overseas in addition to 1 female seconded to the UN.

The requested breakdown of the total female strength of 563, by rank, is as follows.

Two females were discharged from the Defence Forces in January 2023. Typically, discharges include personnel who leave for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges and would also include any trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.

In line with current policies and commitments, and the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, a number of initiatives are in place with a view to increasing the level of female participation in the Defence Forces. Additionally, special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework.

My immediate focus is now on stabilising the staffing situation in the Defence Forces and thereafter in bringing the strength, of both males and female members, to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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349. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10849/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The Government remains absolutely committed to the advancement of the RDF. The White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve and the Government remains fully committed to this.

The strength of the Reserve Defence Force, as of 31 January 2023, is set out below.

The Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces contains many detailed recommendations, including on the future structure and role of the RDF.

A High Level Action Plan (HLAP) that sets out the Government’s response to the Report has also been approved with some specific initiatives including the immediate commencement of planning for the establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs with the priority objective of developing a regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force.

The Deputy may also be aware that the 2022 recruitment drive for the RDF was advertised across a number of media channels. Recruit Liaison Officers across the Reserve conducted local recruitment to attract applicants for this campaign and over 1000 applications were received, which is very encouraging.

In 2022, to the end of year, 90 RDF recruits were inducted into the Defence Forces and the processing of eligible applicants is continuing. A further 4 have been inducted in 2023 as of February 28. The military authorities have advised me that once this body of work is completed, consideration will be given to the launch of a further recruitment campaign in mid 2023.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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350. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of women in the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10850/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve. As of 31 January 2023, the effective female strength of the RDF is 187 members.

In line with current policies and commitments, a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces. For example:

- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework, including a Female Recruitment Standing Committee reporting on initiatives, with dedicated female recruitment teams proposed. In addition, a female specific "Always on" (constant targeting of the female demographic) campaign commenced in October 2021.

- The Defence Forces actively engage with schools to conduct career talks and regularly attend events aimed at future career choices for schools.

- A Gender Equality and Diversity Officer has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are committed to gender equality and employ a gender perspective in the planning and execution of operations both at home and overseas and in all policies and regulations. Gender Advisors, generally at Commandant level, are available to all Brigades and Services and trained Gender Focal Points are deployed with all overseas units and ships in order to promote a gender perspective in operations.

- A Defence Forces Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.

Initiatives in place to recruit individuals to the Reserve include supports provided to maximise RDF recruitment including use of social media, promotion through the Defence Forces Press Office and outreach activities by RDF members. In addition, a number of measures to streamline the recruitment and induction process for the RDF are in train and it is hoped that they will yield a positive outcome.

The Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces included a number of recommendations relating to gender and diversity in the Defence Forces. A High Level Action Plan (HLAP) that sets out the Government’s response to this report was also approved. A number of these recommendations have been identified as early actions, including the appointment of a senior Gender Advisor at Colonel level, options for female participation at General Staff level, review of fitness standards, and the development of gender, diversity and unconscious bias training.

Some specific initiatives specifically relating to the RDF include the immediate commencement of planning for the establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs with the priority objective of developing a regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force. In addition, a further recommendation that the Defence Forces Women's network be extended to members of the Reserve has already been implemented.

I would reiterate that the Government remains fully 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 Force activities.