Replying to some of the points raised in the thesis, a spokesman for the Defence Forces said: "There is an administrative instruction on interpersonal relationships that covers the areas of bullying, discriminatory behaviour and harassment.
"There is a complaints procedure that goes through the unit, the formation [brigade level] to the chief-of-staff and to the Minister and to a complaints inquiry officer appointed by the Minister to deal with complaints."
He said that in 2000 there were 35 complaints to the complaints inquiry officer - none of which was from female personnel. So far this year only one of the 18 complaints made to the inquiry officer was from a woman.
He added that in the latest recruitment drive the number of women applicants was 14 per cent and the intake was 14 per cent.
There are currently 409 women in the Defence Forces. Women account for 3.9 per cent of "other ranks" and 5.6 per cent of officers.
The spokesman said the thesis was "an academic work" and that the research had "not been made available to the Defence Forces".
In a statement issued later, the Defence Forces said it was "a responsible employer, whose personnel policy reflects and demands the highest standards of personal discipline and behaviour. Conduct that breaches these standards . . . is not acceptable or tolerated."