Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Defence if the report into Irish involvement in defence of Jadotville (details supplied) has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1407/05]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Defence the details of the report carried out by his Department into a group of Irish soldiers who were falsely accused of cowardice in a battle in the Congo more than 40 years ago while on service with the United Nations; if the men have been exonerated in this report; if he has plans to commemorate the actions of these men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1501/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 129 together.

As I previously explained to the House, the Chief of Staff received a submission from a retired Army officer, who served at Jadotville, seeking a review of the events of September 1961. The Chief of Staff arranged for the submission to be examined by a board of officers and a report was subsequently prepared and forwarded to me late last year. I have examined the report in some detail.

It is important that all Members of the House recognise the sensitivity of the clear and deeply held views of all those involved in the event, both in B company and among members of the 35th battalion as a whole, even after the passage of so many years. It is fair to say that the events in Jadotville raise very deeply held emotions among all those involved in the events there. There is certainly a sense among the members of B company that, while there was no official action against any of them nor any official criticism of their actions, their stand in Jadotville was not appropriately recognised by the Defence Forces and there is a definite sense of grievance on the part of those involved arising because of that. Moreover, while there was no formal criticism, it has been suggested that those involved in Jadotville may have been subjected to adverse comments in some quarters. It would seem to be the case that the lack of formal recognition of the events at Jadotville, which were no doubt extremely trying for the personnel involved, served to reinforce this sense of grievance and criticism for what happened there.

Whatever the perception may have been, I can inform the House that the report fully exonerates the actions of B company. At the time they surrendered, nothing would have been served by fighting on, except further and unnecessary bloodshed. It is clear from the report that the company and its commanding officer acted appropriately given all the circumstances. Detailed consideration is being given to the most appropriate form of commemoration for those involved in the events in Jadotville and I hope to make an announcement in this regard soon.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I join the Minister in pointing out that the grievance of personnel of this company of the 35th battalion was well founded because for a number of years question marks — more anecdotal than anything else and founded on no great basis — evolved around them. I welcome that the Minister pointed out that he will take a measure to recognise appropriately the efforts of those people, many of whom, including the commanding officer of the company and the commander at that time, are now deceased. I realise this is a very sensitive issue for their families. I am delighted that after so many years they will be appropriately recognised for the excellent job they did in extremely difficult circumstances.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I went through the report in some detail but did not get any sense from it that there was a concerted effort at the time not to commemorate or recognise the events at Jadotville. I could not find any criticism of the behaviour of the men in question. However, there are no formal records to indicate that this was the case or, in other words, that they should have been free of criticism and that they acted appropriately. I am glad we have a report, which confirms this. We are considering some way of commemorating their bravery and heroism and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on that within the next couple of weeks.