Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Defence if the two surviving Irish soldiers who survived the Niemba massacre in the Congo in November 1960 will receive Army medals, as have been awarded posthumously to the other members of the patrol; the reason for not awarding the medals to these men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31998/05]

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the new evidence regarding the Niemba massacre contained in the recently published book, The Far Battalions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31704/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 46 together.

Since Ireland took part in its first United Nations Mission in 1958, Defence Forces personnel have performed approximately 54,000 tours of duty on 58 peace support operations worldwide. Because UN peacekeepers operate in strife-torn regions, practically every officer, NCO and private who has served overseas has been exposed to hostile events of one sort or another.

While I fully appreciate that the experiences in the Congo were particularly distressing, it is also the case that many other members of the Defence Forces who have served overseas have been involved in serious and disturbing incidents where death and severe injury have resulted. This is in no way intended to denigrate the distress suffered by those involved. Rather, it is to indicate that service in a war torn region inevitably exposes members of the Defence Forces to the possibility of involvement in incidents of a very serious and distressing nature.

The Defence Forces do award bravery and distinguished service medals in exceptional circumstances. Cases for the award of such medals are examined in great detail having regard to the circumstances pertaining in each particular case and on the basis of comparison with previous similar awards. In 1962 a military board considered the various cases presented in relation to action in the Congo, including the Niemba ambush, and made its recommendations. At that time, 22 cases were made for the award of the military medal for gallantry and only one such medal was awarded. In the case of the distinguished service medal, a military board was convened in 1965 where 120 cases were made for this award and of those, only 24 were awarded. Clearly, such medals are awarded only in rare and exceptional circumstances and the number of personnel recommended for the award of such medals is very small.

There is no award in the Defence Forces for survivors of hostile action. If such an award were to be created, it would have to be extended to all members of the Defence Forces who suffered in a similar way. As I have indicated, so many personnel who serve overseas are exposed to various degrees of hostile action, and therefore significant numbers would qualify for such an award.

There are awards made to all personnel who serve on overseas missions, which aim to recognise the contribution made by the members of each contingent serving on the peacekeeping mission and the difficult circumstances in which they have to operate. In this regard, the personnel referred to have received both a United Nations medal, for their service in the Congo, awarded by the UN, and the United Nations peacekeeping medal awarded by the Irish Government.

Neither my Department nor the Defence Forces have a copy of the publication referred to in the question and steps are being taken to acquire a copy.