Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

In view of the fact that the mission spent only one month as a EUFOR mission and will spend three months as a UN mission, surely it would be more appropriate to provide the personnel with a UN peacekeeping medal, which, as I understand it, is what the majority of the mission wants.

I ask that the Minister make personal representations to the Force commander with whom remit for the provision of these medals rests. Will the Minister make representations, through the UN or Irish representatives, to the Force commander that consideration be given to the award of these medals. Also, there is precedent in regard to the granting of the peacekeeping medal. Members of the Naval Service served 60 days in Lebanon and were granted the UN peacekeeping medal at that time. There is precedent. This is quite a serious issue. I will certainly campaign on behalf of these people because they feel very strongly about it. They are representing us in very hostile conditions. Surely they deserve this honour. At the end of the day what these people, who were on foreign missions and who risked their lives for us and for world order, have is just that badge of honour - that medal - to show they served there. The UN peacekeeping medal is very highly regarded by any military person in the world, never mind Ireland.

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