Mr. Kieran Brennan:

I thank the Chairman and the distinguished members of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence for the invitation to attend. The Chairman has introduced all four of the IUNVA delegation and I wish to mention that between us we have completed 35 overseas tours of duty, including Mr. Kerton who has joined remotely.

The Irish Defence Forces has a long and distinguished history of supporting the United Nations that stretches back to 1958 when the first peacekeepers were deployed to Lebanon. Since then many thousands of Irish men and women have made a significant contribution to peace and security in many of the most challenging security environments in the world. Relative to the size of the Defence Forces the cost of that service has been high as 87 members of Óglaigh na hÉireann paid the ultimate price in their endeavours to provide a better life for others.

Two members of Óglaigh na hÉireann remain missing in action, namely, Trooper Patrick Mullins from Kilbehenny in Limerick following events in Elizebthville in the Congo in September 1961, and Private Caoimhín Seoige, Inis Oírr, the Aran Islands following an incident near the village of Dyar Ntar in South Lebanon in April 1981. I mention Trooper Mullins and Private Seoige as this year marks the 60th and 40th anniversary, respectively, of their disappearance. Today, as we gather in this historic building, it is appropriate that all of us, veterans and elected representatives, remember our fallen UN veterans, and particularly their families who continue to grieve the loss of loved ones to this day. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam uasal.

I will give an overview of Irish United Nations Veterans Association, IUNVA, was formed at a meeting on 10 February 1990 when a group of personnel, that was led by Major General Vincent Savino, who is retired and is currently the president of IUNVA, identified a need to look after veterans and their families who had fallen on hard times, and where in some instances the State had failed them. The constitution of IUNVA was ratified at its first annual general conference in October 1990. Today, IUNVA is a recognised not-for-profit veterans association that is based on the principle of volunteerism and providing support to others, which is in line with the ethos and values of our veterans.

As a registered charity, IUNVA is compliant with all governance structures as per the Charity Regulator. IUNVA has in place a robust management structure where the executive committee, who are elected at its annual general convention, run the association on a day-to-day basis. IUNVA is a non-denominational, non-political and non-sectarian association where membership is open to any Irish resident who has successfully completed a tour of duty with a UN force or organisation whether he or she has retired or not.

IUNVA, like our colleagues in ONE is organised on a regional basis with 21 posts that are located throughout the country with many within or adjacent to military installations. IUNVA members affiliated to their local posts gather, provide support to one another and reminisce about completed overseas trips. Most importantly, it is through this network that the executive committee of IUNVA manage and co-ordinate post activities across the full spectrum.

IUNVA remains unique within the veterans' organisations in that among our more than 1,200 members we have both retired and serving members. The headquarters of IUNVA is located in 1 Post Arbour House where we recently opened a museum that is dedicated to our veterans service overseas. I hope that Members might get to visit the museum in the future.

I will outlined the aims and objectives of IUNVA. They are: to ensure that the memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of peace on United Nations service is not forgotten; to provide advice and assistance for members and their families; to encourage, help and assist in the treatment of members who have been adversely affected by their service overseas; to establish, maintain and encourage contact with associations similarly constituted in Ireland and other countries; to promote public understanding of the Irish role in the United Nations operations; to promote and protect the interests of its members; to establish a scheme or schemes to benefit members and their dependants; to rent, take or lease or otherwise acquire property for the purposes of the association and invest the funds of the association in such property or in investment accounts; and to publish pamphlets, periodicals and other documents for the purpose of furthering the interests of the association and its members. Finally, for the purpose of promotion and achievement of the above objectives, to raise money by subscription of its members and-or raise funds by other lawful means that may be necessary from time to time, and to secure repayment of any money in any manner whatsoever.

In terms of funding, as a volunteer organisation all funding received is used to run the association in a professional manner and in the best interests of its members. The Department of Defence makes an annual contribution of €11,000 towards the running of IUNVA, which is small in the context of what we deliver for our members. A case to increase funding to €50,000 has been with the Minister for some time now and we await a positive outcome. I wish to acknowledge funding of €88,000 that has been provided by the Department from dormant accounts, of which a significant portion was used to refurbish our newly opened IUNVA museum.

IUNVA members, with the assistance of the finance branch of the Department in Galway, pay a monthly subscription of €2, which is a valuable revenue stream. IUNVA, like our colleagues in ONE, are indebted to donations that we receive and a recent contribution of €6,000 from the Leopardstown Park Hospital Trust was greatly appreciated. This funding was used to conduct a much-needed first aid mental health course for post welfare officers who now have the skillset to allow them better support veterans with mental health issues that have resulted from their overseas service.

In the context of activities, on a weekly basis IUNVA members are involved in a myriad of activities with the welfare of our members at its core. Ceremonially, we support the families of veterans at funerals by providing appropriate military honours while the anniversary of veterans who died on overseas service is remembered on an annual basis.

First Aid courses that covering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR and-or defibrillator usage are available to our members as required. IUNVA is actively involved in the provision of food parcels for members in need, particularly at Christmas time, and we are grateful for the support received from various businesses. IUNVA also provides accommodation for a number of UN veterans in the Curragh and is actively looking at for more opportunities in this area.

Support for veterans with mental health and other associated issues remains a priority. IUNVA participates in all State and local ceremonial events in its distinctive green blazer with the blue beret of the United Nations. Regardless of affiliation IUNVA will always provide assistance to veterans and their families in need.

IUNVA maintains strong relationships with the Defence Forces with some of its members still serving.Liaison officers are available in all military locations to assist IUNVA as the need arises. IUNVA receives excellent support from brigade and unit commanders in the provision of facilities for our members to conduct meetings and hold functions as required.

The Defence Forces Benevolent Fund provides much-needed funding to IUNVA on a case-by-case basis. IUNVA continues to have good relationships with the Department of Defence having met the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Secretary General, Jacqui McCrum, in the past 12 months. In fact, we are having this year's meeting with the Minister tomorrow week. This interaction is much needed and appreciated. Funding, in the form of an annual subvention from the Department of Defence which is governed by a service level agreement, remains an issue and our aspiration to appoint a full-time administrator to manage the ever-increasing activities of IUNVA will also depend on financial support from the Department of Defence. IUNVA continues to get excellent support from the pensions section in the finance branch in Galway. We continue to have close relationships with our colleagues in the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers, ARCO, and the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel.

I will now move on to the White Paper and veterans strategy. My remarks will complement those of Mr. Campbell. Paragraph 7.7 of the White Paper on Defence published in 2015 states "there is scope during the currency of the White Paper to further develop supports available to existing personnel and veterans." This translated into project 59 of the White Paper implementation plan, one of 90 such projects identified from the White Paper. To advance this, on 5 December 2018 the three veteran associations, ARCO, IUNVA and the Organisation of Retired Ex-Service Personnel, submitted a document titled "Veterans Strategy" to the then Minister for Defence, the Secretary General and the Chief of Staff. This strategy includes strategic goals relating to seven areas: interface with Department of Defence and Defence Forces, transition from military to civilian life, accreditation of unique military skills, pensions and ancillary support, medical support, social housing and recognition of military service. To date, no progress has been made in advancing the aims of this document in a holistic manner despite it continually being an item on the agenda when meeting Department of Defence representatives. In February of this year, IUNVA was informed that project 59 had been closed. This decision was very disappointing not least as it was taken without any reference to IUNVA and other veteran organisations. IUNVA remains hopeful that a veterans strategy will come to fruition in the short to medium term. This will require the support of many stakeholders, not least our elected representatives.

Notwithstanding the development of this strategy and subsequent policies to support it, IUNVA strongly advocates for the immediate establishment of a joint office for veterans' affairs supported by the veterans associations and resourced by the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence. Such an office, with the capacity to link into other Government Departments, would provide veterans with a platform through which issues of importance could be addressed by policymakers. IUNVA considers that the appointment of a commissioner for veterans' affairs, which would be in line with other European countries, would further demonstrate the State’s commitments to veterans and the value it places on their outstanding service both on the island and overseas.

I will sum up by saying that IUNVA's mission statement speaks to remembering, honouring and caring. That sums up the ethos and values of the organisation and its members. I thank members of the committee for their attention.