Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not know if the Leader has watched the movie "The Seige of Jadotville" yet but many Members have.For many years, the men were betrayed by their Government and the State and their heroism was turned into cowardice by people in political leadership in the State. What the men went through in Jadotville was one of the most remarkable military feats in history. Rather than this being presented to young members of the Defence Forces as the standard to adhere to, it was presented as the standard to walk away from and as cowardice. The betrayal was tremendous. Some people took their own lives or died in despair, and their families dealt with all this over the years.

I and my colleague, Senator Craughwell, have asked the Minister for a presentation of medals in Áras an Uachtaráin. In this centenary year, members of the Defence Forces were rightfully paraded and presented with medals. Why can we not bring the surviving members of Jadotville, whose numbers are dwindling every year, and their families to Áras an Uachtaráin to be presented with medals by our President? If they cannot be presented with medals of gallantry, they should be given medals to acknowledge their service to the State and the United Nations and the honour they brought upon the Irish people by their actions over those days. The manner in which they were betrayed by those in UN and Irish political leadership at that time was disgrace.

I assume everybody in the House agrees that the Leader should communicate, on behalf of the entire House, our wishes and firm view that the heroes of Jadotville, the surviving members and their families should be brought to Áras an Uachtaráin at the earliest opportunity and have medals pinned on their chests on behalf of the people of the State. I urge the Leader to ask the Minister to listen to the views of the House.