Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To answer the Deputy's question, there are currently no plans to adopt a statutory ban on the training of military personnel in Ireland from any other state.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In response to the deterioration of maritime security in the Red Sea and the impacts on shipping and navigational rights as well as regional peace and security, the EU is exploring the possibility of a new maritime operation to protect merchant vessels transiting in straits used for international navigation. This right of passage is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The proposed operation would be established under the EU’s common security and defence policy [CSDP], with ships and crew deployed from EU Member State navies. The EU operation will be a defensive only operation to protect EU interests to ensure maritime shipping can operate as normal from Europe to Asia. The operation will only use proportionate force at sea in self-defence to react to attacks.

While Ireland will not be participating in the operation, we are supportive of its establishment, given the need to protect merchant ships and their crews from attack and our own national interest in economic and supply-chain stability. It is expected that once agreed, the new EU maritime security operation, EUNAVFOR Operation ASPIDES, will be launched later this month, at the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 February.

Finally, it is important to note that UN Security Council Resolution 2722 on 10 January last called for an immediate end to attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and noted the right of Member States to defend their vessels and the rights of passage from attack.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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182. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of qualified avionics technicians and cadet pilots in training currently within the Air Corps. [6213/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It has not been possible to collate the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As at 31 December 2023, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 559.

The table below sets out the number of women in each branch, and the number of discharges from the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 December 2023.

In 2023, 37 female inductions represented some 9% of the total inductions of 415 personnel. This was in line with the aims of the Chief of Staff for 2023.

Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework and the High Level Action Plan agreed by Government on the Commission on the Defence Forces contains a range of recommendations designed to assist in increasing female participation in the Defence Forces. The Government remains committed to increasing female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As of 31 December 2023, the effective female strength is 178, of which 171 are in the Army Reserve and 7 are in the Naval Service Reserve.

The military authorities have advised that for each of the years 2020 to 2023, the number of female discharges from the Reserve Defence Force is as follows:

While it is not possible to estimate the year on year female participation rates going forward, the Commission on the Defence Forces have recommended a female participation rate of 35% across the Defence Forces.

In light of the Commission on the Defence Forces report and the report of the Independent Review Group on dignity and equality issues, I have prioritised a significant programme of reform and culture change within the Defence Forces to ensure that it is an equal opportunities employer, providing a safe workplace which is fully reflective of contemporary Irish society.

Additional actions that are to be advanced under the Strategic Framework for Transformation of the Defence Forces include the appointment of a senior Gender Advisor at Colonel level; options for female participation at General Staff level; and the development of gender, diversity and unconscious bias training.

These are important initiatives which will underpin the commitment to moving to a strong representation by women across all ranks of the Defence Forces.

In addition to current recruitment and retention measures for the RDF, a regeneration plan is being prepared following the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF). This plan is being developed by the Defence Forces Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established last year on foot of recommendations in that Report.

I wish to assure the Deputy of the Government's continued commitment 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.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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185. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 28 November 2023, if the medical records of a member of the Defence Forces were found to be incorrect and inaccurate, the procedure that is in place to put this miscarriage of justice right; the person or body to contact with new evidence and supporting documents (details supplied) to rectify this important issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6620/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Further to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 134 on 28th November 2023, the Defence Forces have advised me that every effort is made to ensure that medical records of Defence Force personnel are maintained accurately and in confidence. Should any incorrect or inaccurate entries be identified, I am informed that they are duly corrected at that time and point.

For the Deputy's awareness, the data controller for medical records is the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) and contact details for the Data Protection Officer for the Defence Forces are as follows:

Data Protection Officer Defence Forces, Director J1, Defence Forces Headquarters,Station Road, Newbridge,Co.Kildare.

As set out in my previous reply to you, the individual in question discharged from the Defence Forces in 1989 at their own request, having completed 12 years’ service. Since then, at their own request, my Officials undertook an extensive search, including through liaison with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, to ascertain the whereabouts of two documents from his medical records that were provided in relation to a hearing loss claim that is now concluded, namely;

• AF 14 (Medical Examination sheet) from 11th February 1977 and
• AF 332A (Report on medical examination of member prior to discharge) from 20th March 1989.