Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Defence if it possible to replace an old IRA medal that was lost in a house fire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14758/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The position is that the Department of Defence receives requests from time to time for the replacement of lost, stolen or destroyed medals awarded to Veterans of the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence. In relation to such requests, it has been settled policy for many years that replacement medals were issued on a once-off only basis on receipt of a bona fide request from the veteran to whom the original medals were awarded. This policy was adopted in the interest of preserving the intrinsic value of the medals and to strictly limit the number of medals issued in any particular case. Although all of the veterans are now deceased, the rationale for restricting the issue of replacement medals is still valid. Apart from the intrinsic value of the medals, their monetary value on the open market is also a factor.

However, in 2006, the then Minister for Defence decided that, where 1916 Rising/War of Independence medals had been lost, stolen or destroyed, official certificates, in both Irish and English, would be issued in such cases confirming that the relevant medal(s) was/were awarded to the named veteran.

If a relative of the old IRA veteran in this case makes contact with the Pensions Administration Section of the Department in Áras an tSáile, Renmore, Galway (telephone - 091 743899) and completes and returns to the Department the relevant application form, the details will be verified by the Department and, if in order, the relevant certificates will be issued.