Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

How many times have recommendations been made to award military medals? I understand recommendations were made for personnel to receive a medal following service in Kosovo. I also understand that in that case a board never met but one individual decided it was appropriate not to proceed. Will the Minister of State clarify this? Will the Minister of State guarantee that when recommendations are made by an appropriate officer, they will always be discussed and the board will always sit? There is a lot of confusion about this process and the Minister of State needs to clarify it. Why were medals awarded for Elizabethville during Ireland's participation in the Congo but not for other places that saw action? I do not dispute these medals but I would like to know the rationale behind the decision. It is a bone of contention for many people. I acknowledge this is now historical but it remains of significant ongoing interest to many families. Was Elizabethville the biggest action the Defence Forces were involved in during the Congo mission? It is fair to say that it was not. There is a view that the Jadotville men, who were in action months later, warranted a medal. Will the Minister of State provide clarity on this specific issue? The regulations or the process need to be rectified so they can be awarded the superior medal.

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