Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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119. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if members of the fire service will be awarded medals in commemoration of 1916; if he will consider granting the medals to veteran members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7706/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Recognition of the contribution to the State by members of the Fire Service, and other emergency services, is a matter that is not within my remit as the Minister with responsibility for Defence.

The Programme for Government provided for the award of the 1916 Commemorative medal to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served during the centenary year.

In recognition of the contribution of veterans to the centenary commemorative events in 2016 it was agreed to present a framed medal to each of the Veterans Associations along with a plaque for each of the 41 Branches of the Organisation of Ex-Service Personnel (O.N.E.) and each of the 21 Posts of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). It is not proposed to revisit this arrangement.