Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Other Questions. - Defence Forces Strength.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

124 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Defence the total number of personnel and the total number of female personnel broken down by rank at the latest date for which figures are available in respect of the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25262/03]

Mr. M. Smith

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. The strength of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service and the number of female personnel by rank within these services, as advised by the military authorities, is provided in the following table. The figures provided are as at 30 September 2003 in respect of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service.

In previous years the trend for general service recruitment has been that 9% of all applicants have been female and that on average 9% of enlistments have been female. It is obviously not possible to predict what the relevant percentages will be in any future intake of recruits but there is no reason to assume that this pattern will change to a great degree. A total of 15.4% of applicants for the 2003 cadetship competition were female while 15.5% of successful candidates were female.

Women are eligible for service in the Army, the Air Corps, the Naval Service and the Reserve Defence Force, and 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. To encourage increased participation by women in the Defence Forces, I decided in March 1998 to reduce the height requirement for all female recruits to 5'4" and this height requirement now also applies to male recruits.

Strength of the Defence Forces

30 September 2003

	Lt. Gen	Maj Gen	Brig Gen	Col	Lt. Col	Comdt.	Capt	Lt.	TotalOffrs	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	Sgts	Cpls	Total NCO	Ptes	Cadets	Total
Army	1	3	6	36	119	355	282	230	1,032	32	41	141	249	1,058	1,595	3,116	4,234	96	8,478
Air Corps	0	0	1	2	12	35	24	60	134	8	4	53	15	130	206	416	347	16	913
Naval Serv.	0	0	1	2	13	40	22	60	138	7	7	75	15	199	141	444	454	29	1,065

Strength of Females in the Defence Forces

30 September 2003

	Lt. Gen	Maj Gen	Brig Gen	Col	Lt. Col	Comdt.	Capt	Lt.	Total Offrs	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	Sgts	Cpls	Total NCO	Ptes	Cadets	Total
Army	0	0	0	0	1	11	30	33	75	0	0	3	1	10	84	98	204	15	392
Air Corps	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	0	0	1	0	0	6	7	12	1	23
Naval Serv.	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	14	16	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	42	5	64

Strength of Males in the Defence Forces

30 September 2003

	Lt. Gen	Maj Gen	Brig Gen	Col	Lt. Col	Comdt.	Capt	Lt.	TotalOffrs	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	Sgts	Cpls	Total NCO	Ptes	Cadets	Total
Army	1	3	6	36	118	344	252	197	957	32	41	138	248	1,048	1,511	3,018	4,030	81	8,086
Air Corps	0	0	1	2	12	35	23	58	131	8	4	52	15	130	200	409	335	15	890
Naval Serv.	0	0	1	2	13	40	20	46	122	7	7	75	15	199	140	443	412	24	1,001

Mr. Sherlock

The Minister mentioned 10,000 personnel. Is it correct that only 460 of that number are female personnel and that the percentage of female personnel has not increased in recent years? How many females were recruited in the recent recruitment campaign?

Mr. M. Smith

The percentage is about 9%. The exact number is in the table. The overall number is about 20 more than the figure mentioned by the Deputy. It is approximately 480 out of 10,500. One can look at this in two ways. It is only 12 years since there was no recruitment of females to the Defence Forces. That has changed and we try to encourage, in every way, further participation by women, who have made a significant contribution to the Defence Forces. There is a significant number of female commissioned and non-commissioned officers in the Defence Forces. I have met and worked with them and will continue to encourage their further participation.

Mr. Sherlock

Has the Minister plans for a recruitment campaign aimed specifically at recruiting females to the Defence Forces?

Mr. M. Smith

It is not possible to do that under the equality legislation. I tried to do it when I provided that the height requirement for female participation in the Defence Forces should be lower than for males. I made that change only to discover that I was in breach of equality legislation so I had to provide for the same height requirement for male participants. This indicates the difficulty with taking the road suggested by the Deputy. However, we are anxious to encourage greater female participation.

Mr. Sherlock

Is the Minister disappointed with the number of female personnel in the Defence Forces?

Mr. M. Smith

We have been fortunate in recent years to have constant recruitment so we have succeeded in having dedicated and committed people applying to join the Defence Forces. With regard to their level of education, commitment and so forth, we could not ask for more. Naturally, I would like to see greater participation, although not necessarily a reduction in the number of males that might apply. We are anxious to enhance participation. The level of participation has not increased in recent years but has levelled out. Does the Deputy have a special interest in the matter?

Mr. Sherlock

No.

Mr. Durkan

Is the total number of personnel in the Defence Forces adequate, in light of the Minister's reply to Question No. 122 and the fact that there appears to be an insufficiency of staff in some areas? Is there an adequate number of personnel in the Defence Forces to meet all and likely requirements or is the Minister just floundering at sea?

Mr. M. Smith

I cannot understand why Deputy Durkan and I cannot agree a little more. The White Paper on Defence sets out a programme for the development of the Defence Forces over the next ten years. One of the objectives of that programme was to get rid of the stop-go position on recruitment which the Defence Forces had experienced over the years. For years before I was appointed Minister there was no recruitment, with bottlenecks developing for promotions and in other areas. We moved from that position and established a set pattern. It is true that in some cases one would like to have more but I must compete—

Mr. Durkan

So there are insufficient numbers.

Mr. M. Smith

I have to consider all matters.

Mr. Durkan

The Minister has confirmed it.

Mr. M. Smith

If we were in the kind of world the Deputy thinks he is in, Utopia, one could have everything. However, I try to live—

Mr. Durkan

The Minister is in a make-believe world, which is much more serious given the position he holds.

Mr. M. Smith

I try to live in the real world. We have tried to develop not only the personnel and inter-personnel relations side but also the equipment side. The Deputy will be most embarrassed when he reads of his party's record when it is set against that of the Government with regard to the equipment provided for the Defence Forces since it took office.

Mr. Durkan

That is a sad reflection on the Minister's predecessor as well.

Mr. M. Smith

The Deputy should not draw me on that issue. The Deputy should be crying.