asked the Minister for Defence the reason the women officers who were appointed in May 1981 and who had to have a university degree or equivalent have not been promoted to full lieutenant rank while their male counterparts have.

I assume that the officers to whom the question relates are the eight female officers of the Permanent Defence Force who were appointed to be officers on 27 April 1981.

The conditions of service of the female officers in question, in common with those of their male counterparts, provide for promotion to the rank of lieutenant after two years' service in the rank of second-lieutenant.

Is it not the case that the ladies in question were obliged to have a university degree in order to apply for entry into the cadet school, while their male counterparts are not so obliged? Is it not also the case that while the regulations state that promotion to lieutenant follows in two years, in the majority of cases, for male entrants to the commissioned ranks, promotion to lieutenant takes place sooner than that?

It was a prerequisite. The scheme as advertised stipulated that one of the qualifications was a university degree. All the applicants entered for the examination in this knowledge. Defence Force regulations outlined that promotion from second-lieutenant to lieutenant would be in two years and from lieutenant to captain would be in eight years and these conditions will be adhered to.

Is it not the case that in the majority of instances male members commissioned into the forces who have a university degree are promoted in advance of the normal schedule, some within six months at the most?

I am not so aware, but I can assure the Deputy that the conditions were laid down when these cadets were being recruited and these conditions are being adhered to strictly.

Can the Minister assure the House that there is no difference in the promotion opportunities between females with a university degree enlisted in the cadet corps and males?

I can assure the Deputy that there is no discrimination between them.

If such a situation arose would the Minister rectify it immediately?

I am sure there is no discrimination.

If such a situation arose, would the Minister rectify it?

If the Deputy has any specific instance, I should like him to bring it to my notice.

Can the Minister indicate why, in the case of female entrants, it was judged necessary to make it a condition that they were university graduates when this is not the case in relation to male entrants?

These were the first female officers recruited and I suppose it would have helped to short-list them. In the normal course of events, after completing two years in a military college, a male cadet would attend university. In the case of females, it was possible to put them straight into their units when their two years were completed.

In the case of female entrants, there is a feeling that they are being put into purely administrative duties which are far below their qualifications. For that reason, the requirement of a university degree would seem to be out of line with the duties to which they are assigned or to take it the other way around, the fact that they are university graduates would not suit them for a more active participation in the life of the Defence Forces, which now seems to be planned.

I was not aware that any member of the Defence Forces felt that he or she was being under-utilised.