Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is very well aware, this has been a very contentious issue for a long number of years, long before I entered the House in 2002. A Government decision was made that we would award the Jadotville Medal to the men who participated there. This went on for a long number of years. I am very well aware of the campaign under way for medals for a select group of men who served in Jadotville. These issues were considered in the 1960s by the medal board when people were recommended for a Distinguished Service Medal. On that occasion, a decision was made not to award a Distinguished Service Medal. I understand the medal board sat on two separate occasions to consider the matter. I have stated, and will state again today, that if there is new information, of course it will be reconsidered. People have put information into the domain recently, but my understanding is that information was already on the military records. If there is substantive new information, of course this will be reconsidered.

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