28 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Defence when he intends to commence the enrolment of women into the Defence Forces; if all three sections of the Defence Forces will be involved; and if he will give details of the numbers.

The question would seem to imply that there are yet no women in the Defence Forces. This is not the case; women have been serving in the Permanent Defence Force since 1980 and there are at present 94 personnel so serving.

29 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the number of women in (a) the Army (b) the Air Corps and (c) the Naval Service; the percentage of the total this represents in each case; the plans there are to increase the number of women in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There are 93 women serving in the Army, representing 0.5 per cent of current strength. There is one woman serving with the Air Corps and there is none in the Naval Service.

Subject to budgetary constraints and operational requirements it is intended to expand the opportunities over the coming years for women to serve in the Defence Forces.

In reply to Deputy Deasy's question the Minister said that there were 94. He seems to have lost one along the way. Would the Tánaiste check his figures.

I am right. Maybe I am talking too fast. I said 93 were serving in the Army and there is one women serving in the Air Corps. That makes 94.

I accept the Minister's correction. Given the great commitment that he indicated earlier in answer to questions about the FCA, can the Minister indicate by how many numerically does he intend to increase this year the number of women serving in the Defence Forces?

We will see how many apply and take it from there. The accommodation is being prepared. We will see what accommodation we can come up with and then we will proceed.

Would the Minister accept that two of the major factors dictating the numbers and deployment of women are, first, accommodation or the lack of it and, secondly, the fact that it is only the menial type jobs of stable hands, Army Band members and the like to which women are being assigned? Apart from the fact that so few women are allowed into the Defence Forces, it is a very demeaning feature of their treatment that they are given menial and poorly regarded duties within the Defence Forces.

The Deputy was not listening to my reply——

He is supplying information rather than eliciting it.

——to an earlier question in which I indicated the whole range of opportunities for women in the Defence Forces and the range of jobs they already fill. I replied to that a few minutes ago.

In reality they are not being given that opportunity.

They are, and they are appointed to officer rank also.

This is leading to argument.