Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current protocol regarding the national flag being on the coffin of serving members of the Irish Defence Forces or former members; the position regarding the flags being on coffins inside a church; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30431/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have advised that the protocol regarding the national flag being placed on the coffin of serving and former members of the Permanent Defence Force is set out under Defence Forces Regulation A10 (New Series) Ceremonial and Funerals and its related Administrative Instruction.

In the event of the death of a serving member of the Permanent Defence Force, where the exigencies of the service allow and where the next of kin request, a national flag may dress the deceased’s coffin. The assigned Defence Forces family Liaison Officer should meet with, and inform, the Parish Priest that the national flag will dress the coffin when in the church.

In the event of the death of a retired member of the Permanent Defence Force, provided the retired member had over 20 years’ service and retired with a satisfactory conduct rating, and where the exigencies of the service permit, a national flag may dress their coffin. This must be requested by the next of kin of the deceased. The Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of the Bearer Party, in coordination with the next of kin, should inform the parish priest that the coffin will be dressed with the national flag when in the church.

In both cases outlined above, the protocol for dressing the coffin with the national flag is as follows: the national flag is placed by serving members of the Defence Forces on the coffin when it is departing the funeral home/family residence to the church, it remains on the coffin in the church and from the church to the grave side. At the grave side the flag is removed by serving members of the Defence Forces. These arrangements have been agreed with the church authorities.