Extra marks for Irish shot down

POTENTIAL recruits to the Defence Forces should not be awarded extra marks if they conduct interviews in Irish, says a report.

A report says this discriminates against foreign nationals, returned emigrants and those from some parts of the North.

Recruits are given an extra 6% if the interviews are in Irish, but this is racial discrimination, according to the report advocating radical changes within the Defence Forces.

The report also recommends a bar on recruits with no fixed abode be scrapped because it discriminates against Travellers. It is expected the recommendations will be introduced by military management.

Defence Minister Michael Smith has said he wants to discriminate in favour of women to boost the tiny numbers in the forces, but he has been held back by equality legislation.

Less than 4% of the 10,500 permanent Defence Forces members are female but attempts to increase the number, such as having a lower height requirement for women, have been blocked, said Mr Smith at the launch of the report.

The group, established two years ago, was set up following a review of the Defence Forces that revealed worrying levels of harassment, bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment. That review was ordered after a thesis published by a former member made serious allegations of harassment and assault.

The monitoring group was headed by the author of the initial review, Dr Eileen Doyle, and included representatives of senior military management, the civil service and representative bodies.

Some progress has been made - members have access to confidential counselling services and a zero tolerance to bullying has been introduced - but more can be done.

“Supposed punishments should not be imposed for the purpose of toughening-up,” it concluded.

Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Jim Sreenan said: “Training has got to be robust, but that does not mean there has to be harassment. We won’t do away with tough training but will do away with improper behaviour.”