Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
184. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of women in the Reserve Defence Forces; the recruitment target; the number who have left, by branch and by year, for the years 2020 to 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6463/24]
View answerAs of 31 December 2023, the effective female strength is 178, of which 171 are in the Army Reserve and 7 are in the Naval Service Reserve.
The military authorities have advised that for each of the years 2020 to 2023, the number of female discharges from the Reserve Defence Force is as follows:
|
RDF Discharges (Female) |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Army Reserve |
11 |
14 |
4 |
18 |
|
Naval Service Reserve |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
|
Total |
14 |
15 |
8 |
20 |
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 on dignity and equality issues, I have prioritised a significant programme of reform and culture change within the Defence Forces to ensure that it is an equal opportunities employer, providing a safe workplace which is fully reflective of contemporary Irish society.
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.
These are important initiatives which will underpin the commitment to moving to a strong representation by women across all ranks of the Defence Forces.
In addition to current recruitment and retention measures for the RDF, a regeneration plan is being prepared following the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF). This plan is being developed by the Defence Forces Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established last year on foot of recommendations in that Report.
I wish to assure the Deputy of the Government's continued commitment 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.
