Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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643. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when a meeting will be scheduled with the Veterans Association in order to discuss the awarding of commemorative 1916 medals. [2954/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I informed the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 1737, ref 1934/17, which I answered on 17^thJanuary 2017 that the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal is being awarded as a commemorative medal, personal to an individual’s service in the Defence Forces in the course of 2016.It serves to honour the central role of the Defence Forces across all seven strands of the Centenary Programme throughout 2016. As I outlined in my answer dated 17^thJanuary 2017, I met with the Veterans Organisations on the 15^thDecember last, and whilst I reiterated to them that there are no plans to award the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal to Veterans, it was proposed that a further meeting be held between the Department and the Veterans Organisations to explore alternative means of recognition including exploring further the Department’s existing proposal of issuing a commemorative plaque. The meeting between senior officials of the Department and the Veterans Organisations will be arranged shortly.