Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the recent commissioning ceremony at Casement Aerodrome and the presentation of medals to the families of the four Air Corps men who died in July 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25484/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It is always a great honour for me to participate in the commissioning ceremony for new officers of our Defence Forces. This was particularly so on the 19th of June at Casement Aerodrome where two ceremonies were held, commencing with the Commissioning of the 26th Air Corps Cadet Class which was followed by the Presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal, with Honour, posthumously to the crew members of the Dauphin DH 248 who lost their lives on the night of 1st July 1999 while returning from a successful rescue mission.

Both ceremonies were attended by members of the immediate family and friends of the new officers and the medal recipients as well as a number of distinguished guests, including the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley, and the General Secretary of the Department of Defence, Michael Howard, along with public representatives and a wide cross-section of other interested parties.

In speaking at the commissioning ceremony I reflected on the special commitment that these eight new officers were making in choosing a career of service to their country that will call for courage, commitment and professionalism as their guiding light. I also recognised the proud record of service to the nation that has been given over the years by the Air Corps and its pilots. I outlined the ongoing investment programme in the Air Corps, both in aircraft and facilities, which ensures a bright future for the Air Corps. In the second ceremony on the day, we remembered the sacrifice of the four members of the Air Corps arising from the tragic accident that occurred in Tramore, Co. Waterford on 1 July 1999.

The four crew members who lost their lives that night were:

Captain David O'Flaherty

Captain Michael Baker

Sergeant Patrick Mooney

Corporal Niall Byrne.

Having considered the events of the night, a military board recommended to me that the Distinguished Service Medal, with Honour, be awarded posthumously to the four men. I had no hesitation in accepting the recommendation of the board. My only regret being the length of time that it had taken to reach this conclusion.

While I understood that coming to the ceremony in Casement Aerodrome evoked very sad memories for the members of the O'Flaherty, Baker, Mooney and Byrne families in attendance, and for all the members of their families and friends, who lost their loved one so suddenly in such a tragic accident, I expressed the hope that they might take some consolation from the honour that was being accorded to the memory of these four brave young men. I presented a Distinguished Service Medal, with Honour, to:

Mr. Vincent and Mrs Anna Byrne parents of the late Corporal Byrne;

Mrs Monica Mooney, widow of the late Sgt Mooney and

Miss Davina O'Flatherty, daughter of the late Captain O'Flaherty.

It is hoped that separate arrangements can be made in the near future to present the Distinguished Service Medal to the parents of the late Capt Baker.