asked the Minister for Defence the proposals he has in relation to the employment of women in the security forces.

24.

asked the Minister for Defence the proposals he has for a women's corps in the Army; and the functions it will undertake.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.

I have set up a departmental committee to examine the proposal to establish a Women's Service Corps as part of the Defence Forces and to make recommendations as to how this can be achieved.

It is not possible at this stage to indicate what the functions of the Corps will be.

Is it not right to suggest that the Minister has already made an announcement about this and has stated already what some of the functions will be? What ranks and how many people will be involved in this proposed Women's Corps?

I have made it quite clear at all times that I have appointed a committee to go into this whole matter and to make recommendations to me. On matters similar to that in the question the Deputy has just put, and as I have indicated previously, I am not yet in a position to reply.

Has not the Minister issued some directives and stated the functions this proposed corps will undertake? Is it envisaged that the corps will have equal pay with male members of the Defence Forces? Surely the Minister has some ideas in regard to these questions and must have given some thought to the matter before giving an inter-departmental committee the go-ahead to consider this very important matter.

The position is as I have outlined, that is, no definite decisions have been made on any of these matters, all of which will have to be considered very carefully before steps are taken to establish the corps.

But surely if Fianna Fáil were specific in their manifesto in regard to the setting up of this corps, some thought has been given to the type of questions I have put. It is not sufficient for the Minister to come in here and put all the blame on the committee.

We are not having an argument about the Army.

This is a very important matter. I would expect the Minister to have something to say to the House in regard to this corps since, no doubt, there are many women who are interested in what the Minister is doing.

The Minister has answered the question.

His reply has not been satisfactory. Can he say when he hopes to have a definite decision in regard to the new corps?

The position is that the Government are committed to the establishment of the corps and the details as to the best method of implementing this commitment are being examined by a committee. As I am not yet in receipt of their report I am not in a position to state when the corps will be established. It might help the Deputy if I were to say to him that I am anxious that this corps be established as quickly as possible but there are many matters that have to be examined fully before decisions are reached in regard to the best method of implementing our commitment. I am sure I would have the Deputy's support and the support of all parties in the House in the steps I propose to take in regard to the establishment of a women's corps.

May we expect this corps to be established within, say, six months or within a year?

I am not in a position to say when it will be established, but I am anxious that it be established as soon as possible.

That is not a very satisfactory reply but I suppose we shall have to settle for it.