Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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178. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the consideration that has been given to the proposal to have a medal issued to the members of the Defence Forces, as they would be issued after serving on specific other missions, acknowledging their service during the current Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22434/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government Covid-19 response. A wide range of supports have since been provided by the Defence Forces to the HSE as well as to other Departments and Agencies, including support to the ongoing vaccination programme. 

As the Deputy is aware, medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces in line with Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9, which sets out the qualifying criteria, delineates the procedures required for the awarding of Defence Forces Medals and sets out the various types of medal awards.

Currently there are no plans to amend DFR A9 in relation to the introduction of new medals and the question of issuing a medal to Defence Forces personnel engaged in aid-to-the-civil-authority operations in conjunction with the Health Service Executive or in Operation FORTITUDE, the Defence Forces response to the Covid-19 pandemic, is not under consideration at this point in time.