Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Early this morning, the shocking news reached Ireland that a member of our Defence Forces serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon had been killed. Private Shane Kearney and two others were also injured. We hope and pray for their speedy recovery. I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Private Seán Rooney of Newtowncunningham in County Donegal, the soldier killed, as they try to cope with an immense and overwhelming loss. It is devastating news to receive at any time, but that this family will bear this sudden and incredible grief at Christmas is truly heartbreaking. No words expressed in the Chamber will be enough but I hope the family will take what comfort they can from the knowledge the people of Ireland hold them in our hearts and thoughts.

My thoughts are also with the members of the Irish Defence Forces, Óglaigh na hÉireann, especially those serving overseas. I will make special mention of those serving with UNIFIL and the soldiers of the 121st Infantry Battalion for whom the coming days and weeks will be especially difficult. Our peacekeepers are heroes. They define the Irish spirit of courage, compassion and caring and our inherent desire to keep people safe. This tragedy underscores the very serious risks and real danger they face in the name of peace. They carry out their duties on the ground with communities and protect people by putting their lives on the line. We do not, nor will we ever, take for granted their bravery, integrity and inspiring sense of duty.

We also recognise the resilience of their families who often go for very long periods without seeing them. The legacy of Irish peacekeeping missions for decades stands as a testament to the very positive role our Defence Forces play in a challenging world - a world that is often volatile, violent and unpredictable. Our peacekeepers bring calm, stability and safe haven by working to prevent war. By standing for protection against suffering, our peacekeepers have done Ireland and humanity some service, and it is for these reasons the people of Ireland are so very proud of all of them. It is for these reasons the death of Private Seán Rooney, an Irish peacekeeper so far away from his home, reverberates with grief to the four corners of our small island, the country he went away to serve. It is for these reasons we stand in sorrow with his bereft family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Tá teaghlach agus náisiún in éide bhróin tar éis báis thragóideach choimeádaí síochána Éireannaí sa Liobáin. Is nuacht fíorbhrónach é. Tá caillteanas d’fhulaingt roimh a theaghlach agus a chairde. Léiríonn an tragóid seo an baol agus na contúirtí atá roimh bhaill dár bhfórsa síochána le blianta fada anuas in ainm na síochána ar fud an domhain. Tá muintir na hÉireann chomh bródúil as an oidhreacht síochánaíochta. Today, a family, a community and a nation mourns.

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