Vol. 424 No. 5
13 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the most senior rank currently held by a woman in the Defence Forces; the steps, if any which are planned to ensure a fair proportion of women at all ranks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
36 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Defence the number of women members of each of the sections of the Defence Forces; the percentage this represents in each case; the plans, if any, he has for increased female membership in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 36 together.
There are 115 women serving in the Permanent Defence Force. Of this total 105 are serving in the Army and ten in the Air Corps. This represents 0.96 per cent and 0.98 per cent respectively of the total strengths involved.
There are 192 women in the FCA which is 1.26 per cent of the total strength. The most senior rank attained to date by a woman is that of Commandant.
As I indicated in this House on 14 May 1992 when introducing the Defence Estimate, I have made a decision in principle to end the restrictions which up to now have prevented women from serving in all areas of the Defence Forces. The military authorities are engaged in the detailed planning necessary to implement this decision. While it is not possible to say when this planning will be completed, the position is that women are now eligible on the same basis as men for employment on operational and ceremonial duties, for assignment to military courses and for promotion. In essence the basis of selection in all of these areas will henceforward be suitability rather than gender.
Could the Minister be a little more specific about the progress that the Army authorities are making with regard to his recommendation? I understand from his reply on 14 May that he had instructed the General Staff to set up structures by which the board's report would be implemented. When does the Minister expect the structures to be in place, because obviously the recommendations he is making and has accepted cannot be fully implemented without the structures?
I agree with the Deputy that the structures are necessary but the substance of my reply was that women are now eligible on the same basis as men for employment on operational and ceremonial duties. Military courses are necessary prior to promotion and for promotion itself. The Army is working on the structures. The most important part relates to the opportunities for operational duties, promotion, staff courses and so on.
I very much welcome the Minister's decision that he announced in May, but May is the best part of six months ago and it does not seem reasonable to expect women in the Defence Forces to wait any longer for proper structures to be put in place for promotional purposes. The Minister pointed out that the highest position achieved by a woman so far in the Defence Forces is that of Commandant. Could the Minister, therefore, indicate in broad terms when he expects that the General Staff can report to him that they have the structures in place?
I am expecting that in the very near future. I appreciate the Deputy's concern. As of now, because of the decisions made, there are no inhibiting factors to women progressing their careers in the Defence Forces.
Can the Minister tell the House how many women personnel are serving in the Naval Service and what is the highest rank held by a woman in that service?
That would seem to be a separate question.
The question relates to the Defence Forces and that is a branch of the Defence Forces.
I do not have the information in my file. I do know that the percentage of applications from women for places both at cadet and ordinary rank level is very low. I do not have specific figures for the Naval Service but I will get them and send them to the Deputy.
I have one final question. Are women encouraged to join the Naval Service?
Is anybody?
I made it quite clear that we were welcoming women into all branches of the Defence Forces.
Are there any vacancies?
There seems to be a reluctance to welcome women into the Naval Service.
I am not aware of that reluctance. I indicated in my reply the numbers that have been recruited at cadet and ordinary rank levels already.
