Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, to the House and I thank him for addressing this matter. It was with great pride that I watched the Easter parade on Sunday, 16 April. I was delighted the Taoiseach took the initiative to reinstate this important event. The Minister can be justly proud of the members of the Defence Forces who took part in the parade on that historic day.

I welcome the announcement by the Minister to increase the War of Independence pensions by 50%, as part of the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of 1916 and that the Minister for Finance is preparing to sign off on the proposal, which will benefit a total of 730 pensioners and their dependants. This 50% increase in the pension is a fitting tribute to our veterans and their families.

In light of these celebrations, it has been brought to my attention by a number of family members of those who served during the 1916 Rising and the subsequent War of Independence, that there is no mechanism for the issuing of a replacement medal. It has been a long-standing policy of the Department of Defence to issue a standard letter to the family stating that no replacements can be provided. I am anxious to hear if the Minister has any proposals to review these arrangements.