Pádraic McCormack
Question:42 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Defence if he will review the height requirements for the Defence Forces. [20560/99]
Other Questions. - Defence Forces Recruitment.
John Browne
Question:61 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to review the age requirement for entry into the Defence Forces in view of concerns recently expressed. [20562/99]
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:143 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if he will review the height requirement for the Defence Forces. [20531/99]
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:152 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to review the age requirement for entry into the Defence Forces in view of concerns recently expressed. [20551/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 61, 143 and 152 together.
The minimum height requirement for males and females was set at 5 ft 5 in. In March 1998 I reduced the height requirement for females for general service enlistment in the Defence Forces to 5 ft 4 in. Having reviewed the matter again in consultation with the military authorities, I am not in favour of any further reduction in the height requirement as it has been the experience of the medical corps and training units that persons of shorter stature have difficulty carrying the bulk and weight of combat order equipment.
The current age requirements for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force are as follows:
|
Minimum Age |
Maximum Age(usual) |
FCA/SluaExtension |
PDF MemberExtension |
GraduateExtension |
|
|
Apprentices |
Over 16 years |
Under 19 years |
Under 20 years |
Under 22 years |
N/A |
|
Recruits |
Over 17 years |
Under 22 years |
Under 24 years |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Cadets |
Over 17 years |
Under 22 years |
Under 23 years |
Under 24 years |
Under 24 years |
I am, however, arranging to have the age requirements for entry into the Defence Forces reviewed.
Does the Minister agree that often Naval Service personnel do not have to carry heavy weights? Given the confined space on ships would it be in order to again review the height requirements for the Naval Service in isolation from the other parts of the Defence Forces?
Even though he has a point, the Deputy will be aware that from time to time personnel move from one service to another and an immediate bottleneck would come to mind. We are having difficulties filling all the required posts in the Naval Service, I suppose largely because of the Celtic tiger and alternative opportunities. We have a new ship and agreement on its manning. We are in the process of trying to buy another ship to replace one of those going out of commission. It is an issue at which I will look. I am not too sure whether it will be possible, but I would have to look at anything which would help to keep up numbers in the Naval Service against the pressure which exists and alternative employment opportunities. That certainly is one option at which I will look.
This question has been asked many times—
Do not ask it again.
—and the answer has been the same. Given that the answer has been the same—
Deputy Wall, we are running short of time.
—why do we not try to alleviate the weight problem and the problems in relation to the bag, etc. and allow the women who wish to join the Defence Forces in by reducing the weight they have to carry.
One always gets into trouble in this business when one does anything. It was fine before I came into office. I reduced the requirement for females and have been in trouble—
One inch.
—ever since. I have looked at what has happened in other countries where there is not a height requirement but, at the same time, they have a different regime for females. I do not know how much can be done in terms of lightening the equipment. I have to have regard to what the medical officer and the practitioners tell me in relation to the height requirement and the fact that injuries are much more likely to occur among those below those heights. I am not a specialist in this area. All I can say is that in my hurling and footballing days, I met people who were considerably smaller than I was—
Good goods in small parcels.
—and I was the sore ass of the tackle.
I disagree with the Minister that things were fine before he came into office. They were not fine but we have a more perceptive Opposition in this Dáil—
You were happy to do nothing.
—than in the last one.
A question, Deputy Timmins.
We have been over this ground but I would appreciate if the Minister would furnish us with medical evidence to show that personnel who are taller can carry greater weights because I do not believe there is such medical evidence. The only evidence I have seen states the contrary. Given that there is only one inch in the height difference requirement for males and females, does the Minister agree that a greater proportion of females are excluded from entry into the Defence Forces and, accordingly, there is discrimination against females?
We are anxious to ensure equality in this area. We have some spectacular girls in the Defence Forces. This is an issue which I have said from time to time I was anxious to solve. It has been raised here on a number of occasions and I know people are genuinely interested in trying to reshape it to some extent, and I will look at the extent of this medical evidence. I remind the Deputy, however, that the awakened consciousness of management in terms of the Defence Forces generally with regard to injuries, potential claims and such matters is much higher now than previously.
Did I hear the Minister cor rectly? Did he refer to these women as "spectacular girls"? Will the Minister correct that?
Spectacular females.
When will the Minister be able to tell us the result of his deliberations?
We will do that as soon as we can.
Will the Minister give us a timescale?
Within a few weeks.
Will the Minister review best practice in international defence forces in relation to women and consider a change in this rule? As he said, other defence forces do not have this rule and it would seem appropriate that it should be dropped by our Defence Forces as well.
I accept other defence forces do not have this rule. However, I checked out the extent of equality for females in these defence forces and females are not allowed to carry out certain tasks. In our Defence Forces, it is an open book in that females and males have similar tasks and equality of opportunity. I will undertake to have this matter reviewed.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.