Vol. 494 No. 3
59 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he has taken to encourage the increased participation of women in the Defence Forces to fulfill the commitment made in An Action Programme for the Millennium. [17894/98]
156 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he has taken to encourage the increased participation of women in the Defence Forces to fulfill the commitment made in An Action Programme for the Millennium. [18105/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 156 together.
Women are eligible for service in the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and in the Reserve Defence Force and to compete for all appointments on an equal basis and under the same general 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 order to encourage increased participation by women in the Defence Forces I decided earlier this year to reduce the height requirement for all female recruits to 5'4".
