Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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61. To ask the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question Number 287 of 24 November 2015, if he has received the findings and recommendations of the review of the fire on board the LÉ Clíona on 29 May 1962; if he has considered those findings; and the steps he will take on foot of them. [2794/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The provisions for the award of military medals are incorporated in Defence Force Regulations A9 (New Series) - 'Dress and Medals'. The Regulations provide that a recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Service Medal must be made and forwarded to the Chief of Staff not later than four years after the performance of the act in respect of which the recommendation is made.

I have been advised by the military authorities that there is no record of such a recommendation having been made, at the time of the event or at any time since, for the actions taken by the two individuals that have been the subject of a number of representations that I have recently received on the matter.

The report into the incident acknowledges the performance of these two men, along with the rest of the ship’s company, in extinguishing the fire on the LÉ Clíona in May 1962. It makes no recommendation in relation to the award of any medal or citation.

In light of the representations that I received in relation to retrospective awards for the two individuals, I requested that the Chief of Staff have the circumstances surrounding the incident on board the LÉ Clíona on 29 May 1962 reviewed.

The review has yet to be finalised. I will consider the findings and recommendations of that review once it has been submitted by the Chief of Staff. I am advised that the Report is nearing completion and I anticipate I will be in receipt of same in the coming weeks.