Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. I fully support what is being put in place. It is a pity that we have to bash our friends in the United States of America so much here when they provide so many jobs in our country through investment. In 1955, it was great foresight on the part of a Fianna Fáil Government that brought Ireland into the United Nations. It was the foresight of the late Frank Aiken who was well known to you, a Cheann Comhairle. He was the driving force behind Ireland's membership of the United Nations.

Ireland joined the UN in 1955, and in 1960 we contributed a peacekeeping contingent to the Congo. Sadly, friends of mine were involved in an ambush there during which Trooper Patrick Mullins was killed. He served in the Congo but he has not been properly remembered since and the whereabouts of his remains are unknown. His family have not received the necessary co-operation from the Irish Army or the Department of Defence. No one knows the circumstances of his death. I am told, reliably or otherwise, that there was a error on the part of the people in charge when that ambush took place and Trooper Mullins lost his life. I am asking the Minister to set in train an investigation to discover the circumstances of his death and find where he is buried. The family should be notified of these matters. We have investigations and commissions into everything, but nothing has been done about this lone person from a working family in the Mitchelstown/Kilbeheny area. It is a sad business. On several occasions, his family have asked me to help. I have spoken to the Taoiseach on the matter and I am now asking the Minister for Defence to act immediately so that an investigation can take place. This man should receive the respect he deserves. The Army and Department of Defence should determine the circumstances of his death, discover where his body is buried and find out what happened on that occasion. Was it negligence? I cannot be sure whether the truck or the armoured car moved forward, leaving him behind or locked out, but that should be thoroughly investigated. It is sinful and shameful that such a thing should have happened to an honest, decent trooper who served his country in the peace mission to the Congo — one of the first peace missions of the Irish Army. It leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many people in my constituency. I am asking for an investigation to find out the circumstances of the death of Trooper Patrick Mullins in the Congo in September 1961. I well remember the Niemba ambush which occurred in November 1960. It was a horrific event also.

I fully support the efforts envisaged by this Bill. On occasions I have represented the Government as an observer at the Western European Union in Paris. Good work is being done by that organisation, especially in countries such as Bulgaria, Romania and Poland who are active in the WEU. As members of the European Union, we must walk and march in the right direction because we are benefiting from that organisation which has done so much good for Ireland since we became members. I fully support the Bill. In particular, I am asking that wherever Trooper Patrick Mullins is buried — God be good to him — the circumstances of the death of that gentleman must be put on the record. He should be honoured in a proper fashion.

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