Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I cannot but be moved and touched by the emotion Senator Craughwell has shown and I empathise with him and feel every bit of that emotion, as I think many of us in the Chamber do.

I thank the Minister and commend him on his formal apology to those who served in the "A" battalion and to their families, who have supported them throughout the years. I also acknowledge the fact that the Minister has stated that it is his intention to have two different ceremonies this year, one in New York, at the UN, to recognise all those wonderful men and women who served as Irish peacekeepers and Irish ambassadors throughout the world, and one on 16 September to remember those from the battle of Jadotville 60 years ago.

The last time we spoke about this in the Seanad, the Cathaoirleach - and I thank you once again, a Chathaoirligh - read into the Seanad record the names of each and every one of those who served in the battle of Jadotville in recognition of the respect and esteem in which these men are held right across the political divide. We should remember that this was the very first peacekeeping mission in which a significant number of Irish soldiers took part. It is only right that we should recall and honour the contribution of all who served in the various Irish contingents over the course of the long, difficult and complex mission. Of course, we recognise those who have participated in all missions since 1958.

There is huge emotion attached to the Jadotville case and rightly so. The men who served in Jadotville are responsible for extraordinary service to peacekeeping and to Ireland in what was, again, an incredibly complex, challenging and very difficult space. They fought valiantly for five days, and the fact that they sustained only five injuries was a testament to the man who led them, Pat Quinlan. Of course, we remember all those who have died overseas in the cause of international peace and security. I wish to remember in particular Sergeant John Lynch, who died in Lebanon in 1997. I was teaching his young daughter at the time and I have very strong and fond memories of him. The last time we discussed this the Minister mentioned that any awards that would be recommended must be seen as having been awarded in exceptional circumstances. The siege of Jadotville was certainly exceptional, and the bravery and courage shown by these men was absolutely exceptional.

The report before us today, as the Minister says, is a long one, and it is regrettable that we have not had the opportunity to go through it in detail. We certainly join in the tributes to the 156 Irishmen who fought and their families who supported them. It is good to see the report highlight both the deeply unsettling aftermath and the huge lack of personal welfare supports afforded to the men following the events at Jadotville and their period in captivity and on their return home. I acknowledge that the Chief of Staff has said the veterans of "A" company, 35th infantry battalion, and their actions are the embodiment of our Defence Forces' values of respect, loyalty, selflessness, physical courage, moral courage and integrity. While I certainly do not agree with many of the report's 19 recommendations, the conclusion is important:

The veil of silence cast over the Battle of Jadotville for decades, and the stigmatising at all levels of those who fought bravely and survived Jadotville, does the Defence Forces no credit whatsoever. This must never happen again.

Unfortunately, the recommendation that only one medal be awarded to these men does the Defence Forces no service either.

The recommendations under "Veterans' Affairs" are important and we have to acknowledge them on a day and an evening that is disappointing for all of us who have a particular interest in the siege of Jadotville, as I do, coming from County Kildare, the heart of the Defence Forces. There is a recommendation that "[t]he Defence Forces should now [and only now] engage with ... veterans, focussing initially on those who served with the 35 Infantry Battalion ..., to identify, to offer and to arrange support to those requiring it". The recommendation that "[t]he Defence Forces should review, with a view to expanding, its Mental Health and Well-being Strategy to support the wider Defence Community of serving personnel, veterans, and their families" is very welcome and long-overdue. The recommendation that "[b]oth the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces should enhance their financial and material support for Veterans' Centres and Drop-in Centres operating under the auspices of the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) and the Irish United Nations Veterans' Association" is also very welcome. I think we have all engaged with the ONE right around the country. It is a group of incredible people and I am really glad to see it included. "The Independent Review Group recommends the Government appoints a Commission for Veterans' Affairs, who ... would act as an 'ambassador' for veterans." That is hugely important. Coming from Kildare, I see the many challenges and issues that veterans have, from housing to welfare supports, and the recommendation that there be a collaboration across Government Departments and local authorities to provide transition support is, again, hugely important to veterans and their families.

I will turn to what my colleague referred to in respect of the comments in the report about public representatives and their comments both in the Seanad and more widely.I take grave exception to the language that was used. It is an insult to every single one of us here and to the 18 county councils that passed motions in support of the veterans and their families. I will mention some of the language used. I refer to terms such as "downplaying", "purposeful" or "in ignorance", which is basically saying we were speaking in ignorance. It refers to public representatives having a "lack of understanding"; "confusion" over what was mentioned; "a tendency to inflate the numbers"; "exaggerated claims"; "unsupported claims"; "a lack of interrogation of the facts in favour of easy comments uttered"; public representatives demonstrating "a lack of an informed understanding"; and the Seanad debate being "characterised by groupthink, incorrect information, misleading statements and the denigration by those present of An Bonn Jadotville." This is an absolute disgrace and I take grave exception to it.

I thank the Minister, however, for his work and his apology. I commend his commitment to doing his best both in terms of the two events we will have this year and in progressing the recommendations for the veterans.