The Defence Forces have a derogation from the Employment Equality Act in respect of the criteria of physical ability and age. Therefore, the current age, medical and physical requirements for entry into the Defence Forces reflect the fact that only able bodied and fit recruits can satisfy the difficult and strenuous physical demands of the training and operational environment of the Defence Forces.
The percentage of civil servants employed in the Department with a disability is 5.1%. The comparable percentage for civilian employees employed by the Department with the Defence Forces throughout the country is currently 2.5%. There are three bodies under the aegis of this Department, namely Coiste an Asgard, the Army Pensions Board and the Irish Red Cross Society. There are no persons with a disability employed by Coiste an Asgard. It would not be practical to employ a person with a disability as a member of the professional crew of the sail training vessel, Asgard II.