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Defence Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 February 2022

Wednesday, 2 February 2022

Questions (78, 79, 80)

John Brady

Question:

78. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women in the Defence Forces by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5218/22]

View answer

John Brady

Question:

79. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces who are currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5219/22]

View answer

John Brady

Question:

80. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women members of the Defence Forces who have left in the past year by month and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5220/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 79 and 80 together.

The number of women who discharged from the Permanent Defence Force in 2021, by month, up to 31st December 2021 (the latest date for which such information is available) is as follows:

Month

Departures

January

3

February

2

March

2

April

3

May

6

June

4

July

6

August

2

September

6

October

8

November

2

December

3

Total

47

Personnel discharge for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges. Discharges also include trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.

The table below shows the number of women, by rank, in the Permanent Defence Force, as of 31st December 2021. Of these 36 (8 Officers, 28 Other Ranks) were serving overseas.

Rank

Strength (WTE)

Lieutenant General

0

Major General

0

Brigadier General

1

Colonel

1

Lieutenant Colonel

2

Commandant

62

Captain

50

Lieutenant

49

Total Officers

165

Sergeant Major

0

Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant

0

Company Sergeant

5

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

9

Sergeant

67

Corporal

101

Private

242

Cadets

9

Total Other Ranks

433

It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces, in order to enhance capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve, and a number of initiatives have been, and continue to be, implemented in this regard.

Furthermore, as the Deputy will be aware, an Independent Review Group has been established to examine issues relating to unacceptable behavior in the workplace. Additionally, the Commission on Defence Forces is due to report in the coming weeks and their views will be an important aid to the Independent Review.

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