Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 27: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to provide a memorial for Irish personnel who were members of the British military forces during World War I and who recently received a pardon under the Shot at Dawn campaign. [38349/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The National Day of Commemoration, held in remembrance of all those Irish men and women who died in past wars or in service with the UN, remains the official commemorative event for Irish war losses. This, of course, includes the tens of thousands of Irish volunteers who were lost in the First World War.

With regard to those "shot at dawn", Deputies will be aware that legislation was recently enacted in the British Parliament granting a statutory pardon to all soldiers executed for military offences during the First World War, including 26 Irish volunteers.

The Government offered strong support to the 'Shot at Dawn' campaign in Ireland, and in particular took the issue up formally with the British Government through a comprehensive report in 2004. The Government has been actively engaged since then in finding a solution, and very much welcomes the outcome as a vindication of the memory of these men. The Government also notes that the legislation granting pardons has been welcomed by the campaign as the conclusion of its efforts on behalf of the families.

I understand also that, consequent to the enactment of the pardon, the Irish War Memorial Trust is in the process of adding the names of those 'shot at dawn' to the National War Memorial Records.