Vol. 552 No. 1
24 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the policy of the Defence Forces with regard to the recruitment and deployment of persons under 18 years; his views on the call made by Trócaire to have the minimum recruitment age raised to 18 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11774/02]
The main age for general service enlistment and enlistment of cadets into the Permanent Defence Force is 17 years. There is an exception to the general age limit in the case of apprentices, who may be recruited at age 16 years. However, apprentices are not assigned to any military duties until they have completed up to four years of apprenticeship training, at which time they are close to 20 years of age at the minimum. All applicants for the Defence Forces who are under 18 years must have the written consent of a parent or legal guardian. Military personnel who are under 18 years are specifically excluded from overseas service. The minimum age at which young people can join their local FCA or Slua Muirí unit is 17 years. I am satisfied with all these arrangements.
This year's Trócaire Lenten campaign sought to draw attention to the appalling abuse of young children and their deployment as combatants in armed conflict in certain Third World countries. In addition, the campaign seeks the raising of the age of recruitment to armed forces worldwide to 18 years. Earlier this year Trócaire raised with me the question of raising the minimum age for recruitment to our Defence Forces to 18 years. The worthy humanitarian issue raised by Trócaire concerning the violent abuse of children in armed conflict is an important one which merits international attention. However, it is completely unconnected with the voluntary recruitment of a 17 year old, with parental consent, to our Defence Forces. Representatives from Trócaire recently met senior officials from my Department and officers of the Defence Forces and the position of the Defence Forces on recruitment, training and deployment of personnel was fully clarified. I take this opportunity to advise the House that Ireland has signed the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the cornerstone of the Trócaire campaign.
Have there been many recruits under 18 years of age in recent years? I am also concerned that a person of 17 years may not have fulfilled his or her second level educational ambitions. What facilities, if any, are in place within the Defence Forces to allow such recruits to complete their education, including their leaving certificate?
The average proportion of recruits under 18 years over the last two years has been approximately 25%. As some of them are close to 18 years, I cannot give the actual figures. They may be 17 and a half but are under 18 years.
In the Defence Forces we have, and intend to enhance in whatever way we can, the educational opportunities for advancement which our recruits may seek. These opportunities go all the way up the educational scale. This is very important. It is also important to take into account that the ages of recruitment to apprenticeship in a whole range of occupations are 16 and 17 years. People must decide at this age to what they wish to apply themselves. We would lose out considerably by not giving people the option of joining the Defence Forces at this age. Recruits of this age do not, however, serve on United Nations missions. They must have the necessary training and so on before that can happen.
