asked the Minister for Defence when it is intended to accept women recruits in the Army.
10.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Women Recruits.
4.
asked the Minister for Defence the number of women to be recruited into the Army for the remainder of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 10 together.
The strength of the Permanent Defence Force is determined from time to time in the light of military requirements and does not differentiate between male and female members.
Because of the non-combatant role of female personnel, the enlistment of recruits for general service has had to be confined to male personnel in recent times. The question of recruiting additional female personnel is reviewed periodically in the light of current strengths and commitments.
Why is it that women cadets continue to be accepted into the Army while women recruits are not? Is the Minister not concerned that there may be an element of discrimination both on the grounds of sex and class in that women cadets continue to be accepted but women recruits are not?
I do not accept that there is an element of discrimination involved. This year, for example, four female cadets have been appointed out of a total of 44 cadets. In the event of a decision being taken in the future to recruit a large number of females, one would have to have an officer corps to receive numbers of other ranks. That is why we recruit females to the officer corps from time to time. Their role is non-combatant but they participate in all other activities. The fact that we appoint female cadets does not mean that they are idle or do not participate in activities. They fully participate in the activities pursued by male cadets.
Does the Minister have any definite plans in the foreseeable future to enlist women recruits into the Army?
The short answer is no but, having said that, let me qualify it by saying that this matter is under constant review. There may be circumstances where recruitment would be envisaged, justified and undertaken.
Can the Minister give us any reason why there have been no women recruits into the Defence Forces? The Minister spoke of their non-combatant role but many posts within the Army are suitable for both men and women. The Government have not pursued the Act whereby women were introduced into the Defence Forces. There has been a complete stoppage of that work. It is clear discrimination. Can the Minister tell us how many women were recruited to the Defence Forces within the past four years?
I categorically refute the suggestion that there is discrimination.
Where are the women?
This year, for example, cadets have been appointed for the first time in a number of years. The fact is that because of the work undertaken by the Army, because of the Army's involvement in aid of the civil power and because of Ireland's involvement in international peacekeeping, the Army are stretched to meet their full commitments, both at home and abroad. There are certain duties to which male personnel are allocated and I am sure the Deputy would be screaming across the floor of the House at me if I were to apply female personnel to those duties.
I do not scream.
The Deputy would speak loudly, complain and crib.
(Interruptions.)
Ní ceist é seo maidir le an bhfuil siad in ann nó nach bhfuil siad in ann; táimse á rá nach gcuirimse ag déanamh na hoibre sin iad. Ní raibh siad riamh i mbun na hoibre sin, agus i ngeall air sin níl na daoine seo — is fir ar fad atá i mbun na hoibre atá á déanamh ann faoi láthair toisc, mar a dúirt mé — agus thug mé an freagra seo i dtús báire — go bhfuil an-obair idir lámha ag na fir agus níor iarradh riamh ar na mná an saghas sin oibre a dhéanamh. Tá mé ag caint ar a lán saghas diúitéanna.
There is a clear difference in what the Minister has said in that plans are afoot to take more women into the Army and yet he says they cannot do so because of the nature of the work. Would the Minister agree that if it is the legislation which needs amending, it must be done? The Minister did not answer my question as to how many women recruits have been taken into the Army — I am not talking about cadets — over the past four years.
I do not have that information. I can give the Deputy total figures as of now. There is a total of 62——
Out of how many?
——of which 19 are privates, 17 NCOs and 26 officers.
How many are there in the Defence Forces?
There are 12,500 in the Army.
Most of those 62 women were recruited following the introduction of the Act. With regard to women intake into the Defence Forces, that is a disgraceful record.
Dún Laoghaire): Was the Deputy the Minister at the time?
I was not the Minister; I was not even in the Dáil.