Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, executive group that was in Leinster House today to engage in cross-party meetings on the terms and conditions of county councillors. The Moorhead report is expected to be released fairly soon. As the Leader also has an interest in this matter, perhaps he might do what he can to get that report released.

Gay Byrne was the greatest radio and television presenter this country has ever had. He brought many issues that were taboo to the public attention. His passing, sad as it was, was not sudden or unexpected. It was right and proper that he was given a farewell, and it was also right and proper that it was attended by political and religious leaders and members of civic society.

Friday, 8 November was also the 59th anniversary of the Niemba massacre, the day the first Irish soldiers were killed on overseas duties with the United Nations. Irish soldiers have served since then in places such as the Congo, Cyprus, Sinai, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Eritrea, Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, Liberia, Chad and Syria. The Naval Service has served in the Mediterranean. For over 40 years we have slept safely in our beds knowing our borders were guarded by members of the Defence Forces. Our Defence Forces have never been found wanting with respect to aid for the civil power. Every day, members of the Defence Forces are working for the citizens of this country in bomb disposal, drug interdiction, tackling people smuggling and protecting our coastline and fisheries.

In all, a total of 86 Irish soldiers of all ranks have died in the service of the United Nations since 1960. Friday was their day of remembrance. It was the day members of the Defence Forces prepared and trained for in order to put their best foot forward for the families of the fallen. However, instead of honouring our fallen on their day, the event was postponed because of Gay Byrne's funeral. He was an icon. Would the UK have postponed its remembrance day if a television personality who had passed away was to be buried on the same day? I have said many times that we give our Defence Forces much flattery but little respect. By postponing the day military families get to remember their loved ones in the company of other families, we have sunk to a new low. Gay Byrne deserved everything this country could give him to mark his passing, but surely the funeral could have been co-ordinated and the military event scheduled for the same day. I am deeply embarrassed by the disrespect shown to my former colleagues in the Defence Forces. I am fairly certain that no President or Taoiseach ever rearranged his or her diary in order to attend the funerals of those who paid the ultimate price in the name of this country. I ask the Leas-Chathaoirleach to indulge me as I read the names of those who died: Felix Grant, Justin MacCarthy, Kevin Gleeson, Hugh Gaynor, Peter Kelly, Liam Dougan, Matthew Farrell, Thomas Fennell, Anthony Browne, Michael McGuinn, Gerard Killeen, Patrick Davis, Liam Kelly, Luke Kelly, Edward Gaffney, Patrick Mullins, Michael Nolan, Michael Fallon, Patrick Mulcahy, Andrew Wickham, Patrick Riordan, John Geoghegan, John Power, Ronald McCann, John McGrath, Thomas McMahon, Wallace MacAuley, John Hamill, William Hetherington, James Ryan, Christopher McNamara, James Fagan, Ronald Byrne, Michael Kennedy, Brendan Cummins, Thomas Wickham, Michael Nestor, Gerard Moon, Thomas Reynolds, Philip Grogan, Stephen Griffin, Thomas Barrett, Derek Smallhorne, Edward Yates, Vincent Duffy, John Marshall, James Martin, Caoimhín Seoighe-----