Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 1

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

109 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence the reason a woman who is five feet and one inch tall and is a member of the FCA Reserve Defence Force is not eligible to become a member of the Permanent Defence Force. [30567/03]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The minimum height requirement for both male and female applicants for general enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force is 162.5 cm – five feet, four inches. Previously, the height requirements were as follows:

Permanent Defence Force	Males	Females
With effect from 10/03/80	5'2"	4'10"
With effect from 1/01/94	5'2"	5'2"
With effect from 1/10/96	5'5"	5'5"
With effect from 3/03/98	5'5"	5'4"
With effect from 4/04/02	5'4"	5'4"

Reserve Defence Force	Males	Females
Pre-September 1991	5'2"	5'2"
With effect from 1/9/91	5'2"	4'10"
With effect from 7/11/94	5'2"	5'2"
With effect from 6/10/97	5'5"	5'5"
With effect from 3/03/98	5'5"	5'4"
With effect from 4/04/02	5'4"	5'4"

Slua Muirí	Males	Females
Pre-October 1997	5'2"	5'2"
With effect from 6/10/97	5'5"	5'5"
With effect from 3/03/98	5'5"	5'4"
With effect from 4/04/02	5'4"	5'4"

The professional advice of the medical corps and the experience of training units regarding the current height requirements is that persons of shorter stature encounter difficulties in carrying the bulk and weight of combat order equipment. Therefore, any lowering of the existing minimum height requirements for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force is not envisaged. If the Deputy can furnish me with additional specific information on the particular case he has highlighted I will be glad to make further inquiries.