Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

11:00 pm

Photo of Charlie O'ConnorCharlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 82: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received any indication from the owners of a particular website (details supplied) since his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 3 November 2005 that material bearing the title "Óglaigh na hÉireann" will be removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11572/06]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The presence on this website of a range of items for sale bearing the title "Óglaigh na hÉireann" came to the attention of my Department and the Defence Forces late last year. Section 16 of the Defence Acts 1954 to 1998 provides that: "It shall be lawful for the Government to raise train, equip, arm and maintain Defence Forces to be called and known as Óglaigh na hÉireann or (in English) the Defence Forces." Accordingly, only the Defence Forces properly established are entitled to use the nomenclature "Óglaigh na hÉireann". No permission for use of the title "Óglaigh na hÉireann" on the items featured on the website has been sought from the Department of Defence, nor could such permission be given.

I first wrote to the leadership of the political party whose name appears on this website on 3 November 2005 requesting that the material in question be removed for sale from the site. I wrote again on 21 December 2005 and on 24 February last and while the first two letters have been acknowledged, I have still not received a substantive response to the issue raised.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.