Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The fact the Minister of State is satisfied that the unit citation and insignia are sufficient is disappointing. I welcome these positive steps but what is being asked for specifically, 56 years after the Battle of Jadotville, is that medals be awarded. For the Minister of State to refer to an Irish Medals Board decision in 1965, which is more than 50 years ago, is not helpful. Society has moved on considerably since then. We are speaking in this regard about 155 extremely courageous men, the average of whom was 18 years. As a result of the extraordinary leadership shown by Comdt. Pat Quinlan and his sergeant and other officers, 155 young men were brought home safely to this country following a courageous battle in which they faced 3,500. Surely in the half century since then we have learned something such that it is now time to undo the damage that was done in not giving recognition to those courageous young men.

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