Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
50. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the actions he and his Department intend to take to improve gender balance in leadership and decision-making in the Irish Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50749/23]
View answerIt is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces.
As of 31 October 2023, the representation of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stands at 7%.
It should be noted that while this percentage is far from satisfactory, it is not out of kilter with standards across international militaries. For example, the percentage of women in the UK Armed Forces is 11.5%.
The Chief of Staff aims to increase the percentage of females recruited this year to 9%.
A number of initiatives to both attract females and to retain serving female members in the Defence Forces are in train. For example:
• A female specific recruitment team is being established to co-ordinate the attendance of female specific recruiting teams from across the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, at national and regional level events.
• The team will also engage with the Marketing and Media partner that has been engaged to assist with recruitment advertising, to see what opportunities are available to showcase a career in the Defence Forces for women.
• A Gender Equality and Diversity Officer has been in place for a number of years. Gender Advisors 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.
• In line with a recommendation in the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Military Authorities are finalising preparations to recruit a Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor.
• The Military Authorities have also put in place arrangements for participation by female Officers at Defence Forces Board level.
• A joint Department of Defence and Defence Forces Women’s Network was established in January 2022. The network has organised a number of events during the year, with strong attendance.
In addition, there are a number of Work-life balance initiatives including facilitating "job-sharing" for overseas deployments; accessibility of career courses for those with family commitments; family friendly overseas appointments; and a renewed focus on dual- service member families.
Finally, I am pleased to say that I approved, last month, an updated Maternity and Associated Protected leave policy, the specific objective of which has been to ensure that the Defence Forces policy with regard to maternity and associated protected leave, is in full compliance with the provisions of the relevant national equality and anti-discrimination legislation.
