John Brady
Ceist:237. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women in the Defence Forces by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61082/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 9 December 2021
Ceisteanna (237, 238, 239)
John Brady
Ceist:238. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women in the Defence Forces who are currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61083/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn Brady
Ceist:239. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women members of the Defence Forces who have left to date in 2021, by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61084/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 239, inclusive, together.
As at 31st October 2021, the latest date for which such data is available, there were 561 Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel serving overseas, of which 20 were female.
On the same date, there were 8,572 wholetime equivalent personnel in the PDF of which 601 were female. The requested breakdown of this strength, by rank, is as follows:
I am advised by the military authorities that in 2021, as of 31st October, 42 female personnel left the Defence Forces. The breakdown by month is as follows:
|
Month |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
|
Females |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
|
Month |
June |
July |
August |
September |
October |
|
Females |
4 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
Personnel discharge for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges. Discharges also include trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.
In line with current policies and commitments a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation in the Permanent Defence Force. These include:
- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework.
- A Gender Equality and Diversity Officer has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are committed to gender equality and employ a gender perspective in the planning and execution of operations both at home and overseas and in all policies and regulations. Gender Advisors are available to all Brigades and Services and trained Gender Focal Points are deployed with all overseas units and ships in order to promote a gender perspective in operations.
- A Defence Forces Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.
Over the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence, a number of projects will be progressed to ensure the development and promotion of strategies that continue to support increased female participation in the Defence Forces.
The Government remains 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.
Question No. 238 answered with Question No. 237.
Question No. 239 answered with Question No. 237.