Contract changes urged to keep women in army
PDFORRA called on the new Defence Minister Willie O’Dea to step in and alter the 12-year service rule. The contract, introduced in 1994, was brought in to lower the age profile of the force.
While women only make up 4% of Defence Forces strength, they account for 10% of recruits since 1994.
“From 2006, many of those who joined since 1994 will have their contracts terminated and this will include a relatively high number of women,” said PDFORRA general secretary Gerry Rooney.
Speaking at the association’s annual conference in Letterkenny, he said this policy would make it very hard for the military to increase the 4% female representation rate.
“There are now 400-plus females in the Defence Forces. It’s hard to see how the numbers will increase.”
He said that of the 500 recruits, male and female, who entered the force in 1994, around 100 are still in the rank of private.
This is the group affected by the rule, as anyone who gained promotion does not have to leave, he said.
“For all those in service, men and women, who are appropriately skilled and up to the required physical standard - there is no justification in terminating their contracts,” said Mr Rooney.
“These men and women wish to serve their country both at home and overseas and should be allowed to continue to do so.”
He said PDFORRA has had discussions with the Department of Defence on the issue over the past year, without a positive outcome.
Mr Rooney appealed to the Defence Minister to intervene.
