I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this issue. Existing Garda Síochána regulations specify that a man cannot be admitted as a trainee garda unless he is five feet nine inches in height while a woman can be admitted provided she is not less than five feet five inches in height. The regulations also obscurely require that both men and women be "built in proportion to their height". It is unclear in what circumstances applicants are regarded as disproportionate, and perhaps the Minister will explain that to the House.
These regulations are inappropriate, discriminatory, bizarre and largely irrelevant. For example, how can anyone seriously argue that it is in the public interest that a man of five feet seven inches be disqualified from joining the Garda force because of his height when a woman two inches smaller experiences no such difficulty? Men and women who wish to join the Garda should be treated equally and their recruitment should be based on their ability and capacity to be good members of the Garda force.
I had hoped the Minister for Justice would be here to explain why there are different height specifications which unfairly discriminate against men. Nevertheless, I am happy the Minister of State is present. Perhaps he will explain why it is essential and in the public interest that men are at least an extra four inches taller than women and why the Government insists on height requirements that have long since ceased to apply to police forces in most countries throughout the world?
When this anomaly was brought to my attention it occurred to me that if this requirement was a prerequisite to a person's appointment as Minister for Justice, a number of the Minister's predecessors would not have been appointed and probably would have been disqualified from the parade ground for gardaí newly admitted to the force on the celebratory day when they are accompanied by their families.
