Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2017
578. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the number of women serving in the Defence Forces at all ranks in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps has fluctuated over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53190/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of female personnel (Whole Time Equivalent) serving at all ranks in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is set out in the following table:
|
- |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017* |
|
Army |
450 |
464 |
458 |
476 |
496 |
|
Air Corps |
31 |
35 |
33 |
33 |
34 |
|
Naval Service |
65 |
64 |
61 |
59 |
74 |
|
Total |
546 |
563 |
552 |
568 |
604 |
*As of 31 October 2017.
The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. This is underlined by a commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces.
The Defence Forces have no restrictions with regard to the assignment of men or women to the full range of operational and administrative duties, and all promotions and career courses are open to both sexes on merit.
One impediment in achieving greater numbers of women serving in the Defence Forces is the lack of women recruitment applicants relative to men which may be as a result of societal perception and attitudes to female soldiers and officers.
In recent times there have been a number of initiatives to encourage greater female participation, such as:
- The introduction of best practices in recruitment, such as the adjustment of physical standards for female applicants,
- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment,
- A balanced composition between men and women on recruitment and selection boards,
- All promotions and career courses are open to both sexes on merit,
- A Gender Advisor has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces and,
The White Paper on Defence recognised a requirement to develop a Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and this, along with the associated Action Plan, has been achieved.
Over the lifetime of the White Paper the following projects will also be progressed to ensure the development and promotion of strategies that support increased female participation in the Defence Forces is continued:
- Developing further initiatives to encourage more women to apply for the Defence Forces and to increase female participation at all ranks.
- Conducting a survey to identify any impediments to the advancement of women in the PDF.
