Defence Forces

Tuesday, 12 December 2023

Questions (188)

Matt Carthy

Question:

188. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the percentage of women in the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces in each year to date since 2007, by year, in tabular form; the targets for the number of women participating in the Defence Forces from 2024 until 2028, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54728/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Defence (Deputy Micheál Martin)

The below table provides the requested details of the percentage of women in the Permanent Defence Force, for each year from 2007 to 2023, as of 31 October 2023.

The military authorities advise that it has not been possible to collate the requested information in relation to the Reserve Defence Force within the time-frame available. I shall provide that information to the Deputy once it becomes available.

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.

While it is not possible to estimate the year on year female participation rates going forward, the Commission on the Defence Forces have recommended a female participation rate of 35% across the Defence Forces.

In light of the Commission on the Defence Forces report and the report of the Independent Review Group, I have prioritised a significant programme of reform and culture change within the Defence Forces to ensure that it is an equal opportunities employer, reflective of contemporary Irish society and that is providing a safe workplace.

Additional actions that are to be advanced under the Strategic Framework for Transformation of the Defence Forces include the appointment of a senior Gender Advisor at Colonel level; options for female participation at General Staff level; and the development of gender, diversity and unconscious bias training.

In addition to current recruitment and retention measures, these are important initiatives which will underpin the commitment to moving to a strong representation by women across all ranks of the Defence Forces.

Percentage of Women in Permanent Defence Force (PDF) from 2007 to 31 October 2023

Year	Female % (PDF)
2007	5.27%
2008	5.47%
2009	5.75%
2010	5.98%
2011	6.02%
2012	6.26%
2013	5.91%
2014	6.07%
2015	6.04%
2016	6.22%
2017	6.54%
2018	6.71%
2019	6.91%
2020	7.03%
2021	7.06%
2022	7.06%
*2023	7.37%

*As at 31 October 2023

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to the above-referenced Parliamentary Question and my original reply stating that it was not possible to provide all the required information within the timeframe available. I am now in a position to provide the outstanding information. The table below sets out the requested information on the Reserve Defence Force. The military authorities have calculated the percentage of women in the Reserve Defence Forces, each year from 2007 to 2023, using the relevant Total and Female effective strengths.

Percentage of Females in the RDF 2010 – 2023 (as at 30 November)

Year	Female %
2010	NA
2011	NA
2012	NA
2013	NA
2014	15.77%
2015	14.47%
2016	13.67%
2017	14.01%
2018	13.40%
2019	13.33%
2020	13.41%
2021	13.36%
2022	13.11%
2023	12.61%

Please note that RDF effective strengths were not disaggregated by gender prior to 2014.