Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the recruitment of women to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps continues to receive attention; if the numbers responding is indicative of an awareness of the need to ensure adequate gender balance in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4193/22]
View answerIt is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve.
As of 31 December 2021, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 8,468 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) personnel. Of this some 598 personnel or 7% were female, broken down as follows:
- Army: 488 Female Personnel
- Air Corps: 39 Female Personnel
- Naval Service: 71 Female Personnel
In the two general service recruitment campaigns conducted in 2021, approximately 11% of the Applicants were female while the figure for cadet Applicants was approximately 15%.
In line with current policies and commitments a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation in the Permanent Defence Force. For example:
- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework, including a Female Recruitment Standing Committee reporting on initiatives for 2022, with dedicated female recruitment teams proposed. In addition, a female specific "Always on" (constant targeting of the female demographic) campaign commenced in October 2021.
- The Defence Forces actively engage with schools to conduct career talks and regularly attend events aimed at future career choices for schools.
- A Gender Equality and Diversity Officer has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are committed to gender equality and employ a gender perspective in the planning and execution of operations both at home and overseas and in all policies and regulations. Gender Advisors are available to all Brigades and Services and trained Gender Focal Points are deployed with all overseas units and ships in order to promote a gender perspective in operations.
- A Defence Forces Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.
Over the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence, a number of projects will be progressed to ensure the development and promotion of strategies that continue to support increased female participation in the Defence Forces.
In addition, a review of recruitment practices and processes in the PDF, tasked under the High Level Implementation Plan arising from the Public Service Pay Commission report, has additionally examined all aspects of the recruitment process, including diversity, as part of its work. I have recently approved the final report.
The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities.
