O'Dea Prioritises Greater recruitment of women and Greater opportunities for promotion from within the ranks
Speaking following his visit today to Dun Ui Mhaoiliosa (Mellows Barracks) in Renmore, Galway, the Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea stated:
"Throughout my nationwide tour of barracks I have been struck by the sheer professionalism and dedication of our Defence Force personnel. The Irish Defence Forces have seen huge improvements and development since the publication of the White Paper on Defence back in 2000. We are now exactly half way through that programme and I am extremely pleased to report that my Department's commitments in that Paper are being met to deadline."
"The significant level of investment by this Government into the Irish Defence Forces has ensured the quality of training, equipment and facilities have improved dramatically over the past eight years and morale has never been higher. Nonetheless, during the course of my nationwide tour of barracks and one-to-one discussions with troops on the ground I have been struck by two key areas in which I believe more work needs to be done:
1. Greater recruitment of women and,
2. Greater opportunities for promotion from within the ranks."
"The number of woman recruited each year is in direct proportion to the number of women applying - approximately 9%. While a lot is being done already to encourage more women to apply, I intend to review the measures in place over the coming weeks with a view to maximising the number of women applicants into the Irish Defence Forces. As a former Junior Minister with responsibility for Equality issues, I have considerable experience in this area. I believe it is important for me now in my capacity as Minister for Defence to ensure a career for women in the Defence Forces is fully promoted and encouraged for the benefit of this country as a whole."
"I am also determined to see that more is done to remove the glass ceiling to promotion in the army. Every private soldier joining the army should have a reasonable expectation of being promoted to senior officer level by virtue of his ability and character. There should not and must not be any hint or taint of eliteism in the modern Irish army. Work on this issue is ongoing as part of the Integrated Personnel Management System (IPMS), but I want to see speedier progress on implementing a more active programme of commissioning from the ranks. Again, I will review, in detail, work undertaken in this area to date," concluded Minister O'Dea.
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| Related Speeches |
3 July 2006 Speech by Willie O’Dea, T.D., Minister for Defence at the commissioning ceremony for the 81st Cadet Class.29 May 2006 Statement by the Minister for Defence on the International Day of the Peacekeeper 2006, 29/05/0619 May 2006 Statement by the Minister for Defence Adjournment Debate – Seanad Eireann, 17 MAY 2006.4 May 2006 Speech by Mr. Willie O’Dea, T.D., Minister for Defence at the review of 95th Infantry Battalion due to leave on peacekeeping duty with UNMIL, 04/05/066 April 2006 Address by Minister Willie O'Dea at a 1916 monument unveiling ceremony. 06/04/064 November 2005 Speech by Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D., Minister for State for Defence at the review of 94th Infantry Battalion Due to leave on peacekeeping duty with UNMILON4 November 2005 Speech by Minister for Defence Mr. Willie O’Dea TD At the opening of the EUROMIL conference South Court Hotel Limerick5 October 2005 Speech by Minister for Defence Mr. Willie O'Dea T.D.,
at the PDFORRA Annual Delegate Conference.12 September 2002 Commisioning ceremony for Naval Service cadets - 40th Class25 April 2002 Opening refurbished Headquarters Block, Ballymullen Barracks, Tralee4 April 2002 Launch of Report of External Advisory Committee on harassment, bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment in the Defence Forces21 March 2002 Minister's speech to a Select Committee on the Defence Estimates for 20023 March 2002 Opening of FCA Headquarters, Templemore19 December 2001 Opening NCO's Mess East, Curragh22 November 2001 Commissioning ceremony for Air Corps cadets - 20th Class18 November 2001 75th anniversary of the Army Equitation School15 November 2001 Review of 1st Contingent UNMEE bound for Eritrea8 November 2001 Minister's address to RACO's 9th Annual Delegate Conference
25 October 2001 Unveiling of memorial in Tibnin, South Lebanon24 October 2001 Statement to a Select Dáil Committee seeking approval for the despatch of a contingent to Eritrea18 September 2001 Minister's speech at the Commissioning Ceremony for L.E. Niamh18 September 2001 Tanaiste's speech at the Naming Ceremony for L.E. Niamh17 September 2001 Opening swimming pool/gymnasium in the Curragh8 September 2001 Minister's address to RDFRA's 8th Annual Delegate Conference7 September 2001 Review of 7th Contingent (UNTAET) bound for East Timor24 July 2001 Review of 5th Transport Company (KFOR) bound for Kosovo2 July 2001 Cadet commissioning ceremony - 76th Class12 June 2001 Minister's speech to a Select Committee on the Defence Estimates for 200122 May 2001 Review of 6th Contingent (UNTAET) bound for East Timor17 May 2001 Adjournment Debate re Clancy Barracks1 May 2001 Seanad Adjournment Debate re Gormanston9 April 2001 Taoiseach's speech in Templemore at the review of troops bound for Lebanon4 April 2001 24th Amendment to the Constitution (Treaty of Nice)22 March 2001 Opening new signals building in Cathal Brugha Barracks23 January 2001 Review of 5th Contingent (UNTAET) bound for East Timor25 November 2000 Launch of Report of the Ministerial Steering Group on Reserve Defence Force20 November 2000 Capabilities Commitment Conference, Brussels, 20th November 200015 November 2000 Minister's address to RACO's 8th Annual Delegate Conference10 November 2000 Opening of Hanger No. 5, Casement Aerodrome18 October 2000 Review of 88th Infantry Battalion (UNIFIL) bound for Lebanon11 October 2000 Minister's address to PDFORRA's 9th Annual Delegate Conference7 September 2000 Naval cadet commissioning ceremony - 38th Class |
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