Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1725. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will he issue 1916 commemoration medals to all retired members of the Defence Forces who served in United Nations peace keeping missions. [35060/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As part of the Programme for Government, it was decided that a 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal be awarded to all Defence Forces personnel, both Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal was awarded as a commemorative medal, personal to an individual’s service in the Defence Forces in the course of 2016.

I met with the Veterans Organisations (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE), Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) and Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (ARCO)) on the 15th December last, and whilst I reiterated to them that there are no plans to award the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal to Veterans, it was agreed to hold further discussions between the Department and the Veterans’ Organisations to explore alternative means of recognition.

At my request officials from my Department met with representatives of the Veterans’ Organisations on Friday 17th February 2017 and Wednesday 31st May 2017. My officials proposed that a single presentation will be made to the Veterans Organisations of a commemorative plaque or framed medal with an accompanying citation in recognition of the significant contribution of members of the three organisations to the 1916 centenary commemorative events and their service to the State. The plaque or medal would have a bar with the term Veteran inscribed on it. 

The Veterans’ Organisations agreed to the proposal to recognise the contribution of veterans in 2016 in this way.  They have all since indicated their preference for a plaque. My Department has agreed that a plaque will be given to O.N.E.’s Headquarters and to each of its 40 Branches and to each of IUNVA’s 21 Posts. One plaque will be presented to each Veterans’ Organisation at the Veterans’ Day on Sunday 8th October 2017. The other presentations will be made separately.