Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on amending existing legislation in order to remove the anomaly whereby the award of posthumous medals of honour has been refused in relation to two persons (details supplied); his further views on whether it is equitable that the registration of the vessel should be the deciding factor in view of the context in which these persons lost their lives. [31363/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Emergency Service Award was set up by the Irish Government in 1947 to recognise the services performed by the Mercantile Marine during the Emergency (1939-1946). The criteria for entitlement to the Irish Marine Service Medal, were set out in 1950 (by the Department of Industry and Commerce), as follows:

1. Service on Irish-Registered foreign-going ships;

2. Service on Irish-Registered home trade ships;

3. Service on Irish-Registered decked fishing boats (over 15 tons net which were registered under part 1 and within the meaning of sections 253 and 263 of the 1894 Merchant Shipping Act) this description covers trawlers, which took considerable risks when engaging in deep-sea fishing; and

4. Any Service on an Irish ship which resulted in death or disablement through belligerent action.

The criteria of the Scheme therefore exclude consideration of the two persons referred to, as the ship on which they served was not an Irish registered ship.

I understand the concerns of their family and have had inquiries made on their behalf with the Registry of Shipping and Seaman in the United Kingdom. It is possible to make a claim for valour medals for seafarers serving on British registered ships during this period, and such claims can be made to that Registry, which holds the relevant service records. The address is: Medals Officer, Registry of Registry of Shipping and Seaman, Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Anchor Court, Keen Road, Cardiff CF24 5JW, Wales. In light of this, I currently have no plans to amend the Emergency Service Award Scheme.