Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, am delighted to speak on this matter. Like it or lump it, Tánaiste, you are creating an impression and you have stated that our neutrality is an outdated concept. You have created your own head space in respect of this matter. You did when you held the roadshows, your first little get-togethers, and invited a specially appointed chairperson who you knew was a safe pair of hands. Some of those roadshows were interrupted in Cork and other places. I do not support that. People are not happy and do not trust you on this issue. That is one thing that is certain. I do not trust you on this issue. You are tinkering away at the triple lock and many other things, including PESCO and everything else. You mentioned pay a few minutes ago and said that pay has risen, which it has. For a young soldier joining, thank God, the pay is good. What happens if he has a partner or wife and a family? The wages are very poor. I salute our peacekeepers, as ever, across the world. Gerard Connolly, a good friend of mine from Newcastle, is stationed in Kilkenny. He is over and back to Lebanon and other places. His wife and family are at home, and all the other colleagues with him.

The men of Jadotville are waiting so long for recognition, justice and acknowledgement of their brave, heroic deeds. One of them went to his heavenly reward recently. How long more are they going to have to wait to be recognised for the bravery of what they did and for the State to acknowledge the mistreatment they got, the way they have been demonised and the fact that they were not supported by the Army or successive Governments for decades. The men of Jadotville must be recognised. It is past time. There is a limited number of them left. It must happen sooner rather than later.

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