I am disappointed the Minister for Defence was unable to attend this debate but I am grateful for the attendance of the Minister for Education and Science.
Ministers in this Government have a universal catch cry when questioned on certain policies they have not addressed to date. It is that "a commitment has been given in An Action Programme for the Millennium". In this document, a commitment was given which echoed the promise of the Minister's pre-election manifesto to encourage the increased participation of women in the Defence Forces and to ensure the facilities necessary for their full participation. What does this mean?
On 5 November 1997, I raised the issue of the height requirement for entry into the Defence Forces during questions to the Minister for Defence. Traditionally, the height requirement was 5' 2" for males and females. This does not appear to have caused a problem as the vast majority of people interested in applying for a position were not excluded by this condition. Recently, the height requirement was raised to 5' 5". However, following representations to the Minister to revert to 5' 2" for women, he agreed to reduce the height requirement by 1" to 5' 4" while it remained 5' 5" for men.
Statistics from the Kilkenny health project show that the average height of males and females in the general Kilkenny area between the ages of 35 and 44 years is 5' 9" and 5' 4" respectively. Data given to me by Mr. Tony Watson of the University of Limerick shows that the average height of males and females in the UK is 5' 10" and 5' 4.5" respectively. While it is outside the Minister's control, it is important to note that the height entry requirement for the Garda Síochána is 5' 9" for males and 5' 4" for females.
On the basis of these statistics, there is blatant inequality between men and women with regard to entry into the Defence Forces, as a far greater percentage of women is excluded from applying. In reply to a parliamentary question which I put to the Minister on 10 March 1998 on this topic, the Minister said he was not in favour of any further reduction of the height requirement as it has been the experience of the training units that persons of shorter stature have difficulty carrying the bulk and weight of combat order equipment. However, strength is not related to height but to fat free body mass.
I am surprised that a Government which has an unprecedented number of Cabinet Ministers does not see fit to afford an equal opportunity to women to join the Defence Forces. Is it not ironic that the woman who is perhaps the greatest athlete this country has produced, Michelle Smith, would probably not meet the height requirement for the Defence Forces? I ask the Minister to examine this matter again. If he decides to make no further change, I am anxious that he give a credible explanation.
In a not unrelated area, I ask the Minister to consider increasing the upper age limit by a number of years for entry into the Defence Forces for members of the FCA.