Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was delighted to see that representatives of the Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces have been presented with a specially commissioned medal to mark the role they played in the 2016 centenary year.The presentation was made by President Higgins last Sunday. The medals are in recognition of the role played by soldiers, sailors and Air Corps personnel in the 1916 commemorative events this year. This presentation is very welcome and is a fitting tribute to the role played by the Defence Forces this year, one of the most important years in our history. Throughout the year members of the Defence Forces played a vital part in many large and small events in every part of the country. One function that stands out for most people is their involvement with the primary schools. Teachers and parents have told me how much the students enjoyed the presence and involvement of the Defence Forces when they visited their schools. It brought an important and serious ceremonial dimension to events. Children, many of whom had never met Defence Forces personnel previously, were enthralled and impressed by their visitors. We should also recall the vital and necessary functions carried out by the Defence Forces each year, including their peacekeeping activities across the globe. Their work in humanitarian peacekeeping is a matter of global citizenship and enhances the reputation of our country. They do their duty without the right to take industrial action and they do it willingly and without rancour or complaint. It is fair to say that the credit they received last weekend is long overdue. It is great to see them finally being recognised.

In addition, I welcome that the Garda Representative Association, GRA, voted yesterday to accept the Labour Court recommendation. I understand the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, is meeting today and I hope it follows suit. The lesson to be learned from this sad debacle is that the closely connected Ministers should stay in touch with these unions to ensure that situations such as this do not arise in future.