Vol. 474 No. 2
111 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Defence how he can justify the change in the regulations governing entry to the Permanent Defence Forces, particularly in relation to the height requirement; if he will consider revising this particular condition to the height requirement for FCA service; and the reason FCA service is no longer recognised when assessing applications for entry to the Defence Forces. [2680/97]
The eligibility requirements for enlistment in the Defence Forces are reviewed on an ongoing basis and, arising from such reviews, they are revised from time to time to meet changing military service requirements. The present eligibility requirements for enlistment take account of the fact that service rendered on a part-time, voluntary basis in the Reserve Defence Force differs from fulltime service in the Permanent Defence Force. There is no plan at present to revise the height requirement for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force. While there is no formal system of advantage for members of the FCÁ or the Slua Muirí who apply for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force it is considered that the type of person who gives voluntary service with the Reserve Defence Force is very often the type of person that the Permanent Defence Force wants to recruit. Experience has shown that a high proportion of recruits selected for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force have had FCÁ service.
