I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 227 together.
The number of men and women serving in each rank in the Permanent Defence Forces is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
To date in 1996 a total of 63 males and ten females were recruited to the Permanent Defence Forces for training as apprentices and cadets. The selection process for the enlistment of 200 recruits for general service in the Army and in the Naval Service is taking place at present and, in the circumstances, it is not possible at this stage to say how many females will be enlisted. However, 17 per cent of applicants for enlistment in the Army and 14 per cent of applicants for enlistment in the Naval Service are female.
Women are eligible for service in the Army, the Air Corps, the Naval Service and the Reserve Defence Forces and to compete for all appointments on an equal basis and under the same conditions as those which apply to men. All female personnel undergo the same training and receive the same military education as their male counterparts. In essence the basis of selection is suitability rather than gender.
TABULAR STATEMENT
The number of male and female members of the Permanent Defence Forces serving at each rank at present is as follows:—
Rank
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
Officers—
|
|
|
|
Lieutenant-General
|
1
|
—
|
1
|
Major-General
|
3
|
—
|
3
|
Brigadier-General/Commodore
|
8
|
—
|
8
|
Colonel/Captain
|
38
|
—
|
38
|
Lieutenant-Colonel/Commander
|
149
|
—
|
149
|
Commandant/Lieutenant-Commander
|
470
|
6
|
476
|
Captain/Lieutenant
|
586
|
30
|
616
|
Lieutenant/Sub-Lieutenant
|
196
|
13
|
209
|
Second Lieutenant/Ensign
|
65
|
5
|
70
|
Non-Commissioned Personnel—
|
|
|
|
Sergeant-Major/Warrant Officer
|
47
|
—
|
47
|
BQMS/SCPO
|
56
|
—
|
56
|
Company Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer
|
281
|
—
|
281
|
Company Quartermaster-Sergeant/Senior Petty Officer
|
384
|
—
|
384
|
Sergeant/Petty Officer
|
1,655
|
9
|
1,664
|
Corporal/Leading Seaman
|
2,546
|
26
|
2,572
|
Private/Seaman
|
5,853
|
90
|
5,943
|