asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the circumstances in which no award of An Bonn Seirbhise Dearscna was made to a member of the Defence Forces (particulars supplied) serving abroad.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Award of Medal.
20.
In accordance with the provisions of Defence Forces Regulations awards of the medal can be made by the Minister for Defence only 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. The case referred to by the Deputy was examined by the Board. The Board did not, however, recomment the award of a Medal.
Is the Minister satisfied that the procedure adopted is working in a satisfactory manner? In this case the person in question lost his life in an engagement, and does it not seem strange that medals have been awarded to persons who figured in no engagement while on service?
The Defence Forces Regulations are abided by in this matter. The four members of the Military Board had themselves served in senior appointments in the Congo and they had a good broad knowledge of the circumstances obtaining there. It is not necessary that a man should be on active service in the Congo to get one of these medals. It may be awarded in recognition of individual or associated acts of bravery, courage, leadership, resource or devotion to duty arising out of or associated with service in the Defence Forces.
While it is true that leadership may be displayed in a noncombatant fashion, is it not somewhat remarkable that many tributes were paid to the participants in the particular ambush in which this person lost his life? Does it not seem strange that at least two medals were awarded, that I know of, where neither of the persons was engaged in any particular form of combat, while, on the other hand, this person lost his life?
I have already said that there is no necessity to engage in combat to merit the award of the medal. All the applications were very fully investigated by this Board. I do not think the Deputy would make the case that I myself should intervene in the award of a medal in any case.
No, but it is strange that the particular appointees can in fact award a medal to those who appoint them. Should the matter not be further investigated to see that the type of advisory body set up is such as will warrant confidence in the recommendations made?
I have every confidence in the officers who sit on this Board. They have been in the Congo themselves. They are senior officers. I believe they are very capable of arriving at decisions on these very delicate and intricate matters.
It does not necessarily follow that one has to be in the Congo to know what happens.
The Deputy says that this man was killed in the Congo.
It is a fact that he was killed in the Congo.
The Deputy is making the case that that is why a medal should be awarded. I understand that the Deputy is saying that this man served in the Congo and was killed there and that, by virtue of that fact, a medal should be awarded posthumously to him. I am explaining to the Deputy that the four members of the Board served in the Congo themselves and that that is an indication to me that I should have confidence in them because they know what happened there in a general way.
Medals were awarded for service outside the Congo in circumstances in which the officers were not present and in which, in at least one case, the recipient of a medal was not engaged in any form of combat. I think the Minister should investigate it.
That can be.