Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

99. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his correspondence with veterans and relatives of those who served at Jadotville; and if he will report on the awarding of distinguished service medals and military medals for gallantry. [4065/19]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

100. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding veterans of the siege of Jadotville; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4263/19]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

102. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason soldiers who fought at Jadotville and were recommended for medals (details supplied) have never received same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3835/19]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

103. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the medals recommended by a person (details supplied) will be issued to the 32 members of A Company 35th Infantry Battalion, including deceased servicemen, for their service at the siege of Jadotville in 1961; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3951/19]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

104. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when he plans to award medals recommended for 29 men for bravery in action by a person (details supplied) to the veterans still living and posthumously to those deceased who served during the siege of Jadotville in 1961; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3988/19]

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

105. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when he plans to award medals recommended for 29 men for bravery in action by a person (details supplied) to the veterans still living and posthumously to those deceased who served during the siege of Jadotville in 1961; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3992/19]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

107. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if medals for bravery will be awarded to persons (details supplied) in respect of the siege of Jadotville. [4059/19]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

108. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if medals will be awarded to the seven veterans and posthumously awarded to the 40 deceased veterans of the siege of Jadotville (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4097/19]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

109. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the soldiers involved in the siege of Jadotville will receive medals; his plans to award medals posthumously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4150/19]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

110. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4194/19]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

111. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to award medals to persons who fought in the siege of Jadotville, as recommended by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4235/19]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

112. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will consider awarding medals to soldiers who participated in the siege of Jadotville; the reason they have not been awarded to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4237/19]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

115. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the military medals for gallantry and distinguished service for 29 soldiers at the siege of Jadotville as committed to previously have not been presented; when the medals will be presented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4366/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 to 100, inclusive, 102 to 105, inclusive, 107 to 112, inclusive, and 115 together.

The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under attack. From the 13th to the 17th September they endured almost continuous attack. They were taken into captivity on the 17th September and remained in captivity until finally released on the 25th October 1961.

The issue of the award of medals to the men of “A” Company, 35th Infantry Battalion was comprehensively addressed in 1965. A properly constituted Medals Board considered the various cases presented and made a decision that no medals would be awarded. The Chief of Staff of the day considered the decision of the Board and was satisfied with the findings. Subsequently, the question was raised again in a letter to a newly appointed Chief of Staff. He forwarded the letter to the original Medals Board and asked that they reconvene and review their decision. The Board indicated that the issues raised had received due consideration and that they were not prepared to alter their findings.

In accordance with Defence Forces regulations the award of medals for bravery is time bound. These may not be awarded in any case unless a recommendation is made through the usual channels to the Chief of Staff, not later than two years in the case of the Military Medal for Gallantry, and not later than four years in the case of the Distinguished Service Medal, after the performance of the act in respect of which the recommendation is made. Such awards are made on the recommendation of a Military Board appointed by the Chief of Staff for the purpose of examining and reporting on every recommendation for an award.

Over the past number of years various representations have been received in my Department outlining the courage and bravery of "A" Company. All representations have been considered and responded to acknowledging their valiant actions while under siege in Jadotville.

A review was conducted in 2004 by military officers for the purpose of a broader examination of the Jadotville case. This Board recommended that the events of Jadotville and the contribution of the 35th Battalion be given recognition. In this context, a number of measures have taken place to honour and to commemorate the events at Jadotville and the very significant contribution of “A” Company and of the 35th Battalion, as a whole, to the UN Peace Support Mission in the Congo.

Recognition of their contribution over the years include:

A. A presentation of scrolls to "A" Company in 2006.

B. Portraits of Lt Col McNamee (35th Battalion Commander) and Comdt Quinlan (Company Commander “A” Company) were commissioned in 2006.

C. In July of 2010 the 50th anniversary of the first deployment to the Congo was commemorated in a highly publicised and well attended event in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.

D. A nominal roll of “A” Company, printed in copper, was affixed to the monument in Costume Barracks and was unveiled as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Jadotville affair in September 2011.

E. On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Siege of Jadotville, I decided to issue a Unit Citation to honour the collective actions and bravery of the men of “A” Company. This was the first time a Unit Citation was awarded within the Defence Forces and I was delighted to be able to formally recognise the brave actions of these men.

Furthermore, on 13th June 2017, the Government decided, as an exceptional step, to award a medal known as “An Bonn Jadotville” or “The Jadotville Medal” to each member of “A” Company, 35th Infantry Battalion and to the family representatives of deceased members to give full and due recognition in honour of their courageous actions at the Siege of Jadotville. This medal presentation ceremony took place on 2nd December 2017 in Custume Barracks, Athlone. This location is considered the spiritual home of “A” Company and it is from here that “A” company assembled in advance of their fateful deployment to the Congo.

I am satisfied that the events and happenings to date properly honour the collective bravery of the men of “A” Company and full and due recognition has been afforded to them in their honour.