Vol. 488 No. 4
72 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if, further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 17 February 1998, he will revise the height regulations for women in the Defence Forces to 5 ft. 3 ins. which would be in general the average height for women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6548/98]
I recently reduced the height requirement for enlistment for general service in the Defence Force to 5'4" for females to take account of the natural height difference between males and females.
I am not in favour of any further reduction in the height requirement as it has been the experience of the training units that persons of shorter stature have difficulty carrying the bulk and weight of combat order equipment.
