Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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484. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason ex-members of the Naval Service who served on Operation Pontus on board LE Niamh from July to October 2015 are being excluded from medal ceremonies on 5 November 2016 to mark the service of Operation Pontus. [32651/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by the military authorities that Ex Service members of the Naval Service are not being excluded from the Defence Forces International Operational Service Medal (IOSM) ceremony taking place in Cobh on 5 November 2016 .

I wish to advise the Deputy that provisions are being made to invite recently retired Naval Service personnel, who qualify for the award of IOSM to two separate IOSM ceremonies at which they will be presented with their medals. In addition to the ceremony being held in Cobh on 5 November 2016, a ceremony will also be held in Dun Laoghaire on 26 November 2016. With regards the ceremony being held in Cobh this weekend, I understand that a total of 16 retired Naval Service personnel, who qualify for the award of the IOSM, are being invited.