John Brady
Ceist:914. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women in the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29663/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 June 2022
Ceisteanna (914)
Freagraí scríofa
It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve. As of 30 April 2022, the effective female strength of the RDF is 194 members.
In line with current policies and commitments, a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces. For example:
- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework, including a Female Recruitment Standing Committee reporting on initiatives for 2022, with dedicated female recruitment teams proposed. In addition, a female specific "Always on" (constant targeting of the female demographic) campaign commenced in October 2021.
- The Defence Forces actively engage with schools to conduct career talks and regularly attend events aimed at future career choices for schools.
- 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.
Initiatives in place to recruit individuals to the Reserve include supports provided to maximise RDF recruitment, including use of social media, promotion through the DF Press Office, outreach activities by RDF members, and the use of PDF exit interviews which contain information on applying to the RDF. In addition, a number of measures to streamline the recruitment and induction process for the RDF are in train and it is hoped that they will yield a positive outcome.
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.
Finally, as the Deputy will be aware, the recently published Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces includes a number of recommendations relating to gender and diversity in the Defence Forces. As the Deputy will appreciate, detailed consideration of all the recommendations is required. This involves significant inter-departmental consultation, and this is continuing. Following this engagement, I intend to return to Government with a proposed response to the Commission’s recommendations and a high-level action plan.