asked the Minister for Justice if he will state fully the reasons why a Garda sergeant was refused permission to go to London to receive a medal awarded to him by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for an outstanding deed of bravery, as the country should be proud that the sergeant was so honoured.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medal Award to Garda Sergeant.
31.
The Institution's decision in this case was taken without advertence to an agreement suggested by it in 1948 to Comhairle na Míre Gaile to avoid duplication of awards for acts of bravery. The Comhairle agreed not to make awards to the Institution's personnel on the understanding that the Institution would not make awards to persons in this country other than its own personnel save where the Comhairle had already considered the case and decided not to make an award. In the circumstances, the Commissioner, with my concurrence, decided that it would not be appropriate for the sergeant to go to London to accept the award.
The sergeant was, in fact, awarded a bronze medal and certificate by Comhairle na Míre Gaile at its last meeting.