No female officers among cadet class

For the first time since the Naval Service admitted women, there were no female officers commissioned yesterday.

It is seen by the Navy hierarchy as a bit of a blip, considering since 1995, when women first weighed anchor, their numbers have steadily grown in the Navy and indeed other wings of the Defence Forces.

Seven new officers, who were part of the 50th naval cadet class, were commissioned at a ceremony at the naval base in Haulbowline, Co Cork yesterday, in the presence of Junior Defence Minister Paul Kehoe, Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) Major General Conor O’Boyle, and the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service Commodore Mark Mellett DSM.