Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.
Michael Bell
Question:
49
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Defence
the response he has received to his appeals to governing figures in South Lebanon to try to discover the remains of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30637/01]
Jack Wall
Question:
151
Mr. Wall
asked the
Minister for Defence
the response he has received to his appeals to governing figures in South Lebanon to try and discover the remains of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[30544/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 151 together.
As I indicated to the House on 15 May 2001, on 27 April 1981, an observation post in South Lebanon manned by Private Hugh Doherty and Private Kevin Joyce serving with the Irish Battalion in UNIFIL came under attack. Private Doherty was later found dead from gunshot wounds and Private Joyce was missing. Some equipment was also missing. The attackers are unknown.
I wish to again assure the House that efforts to obtain information on the whereabouts of Private Joyce have been ongoing since his disappearance. I have raised the matter with the Israeli ambassador and the matter has also been pursued by the Department of Foreign Affairs with the Palestinian authorities. During a meeting in the Department of Foreign Affairs in August last year, the then Palestinian Representative to Ireland, the late Dr. Youssef Allan, undertook to pursue the matter with his authorities. The Department of Foreign Affairs has also asked the Representative Office of Ireland to the Palestinian Authority, in Ramallah, to make inquiries with the Palestinian authorities there. The EU Special Representative to the Middle East Peace Process, Ambassador Moratinos was also advised on the case by the Department of Foreign Affairs and asked for any assistance he may be able to provide.
During my visits to UNIFIL I have taken every opportunity to raise the issue both with government and local representatives and with the Lebanese media, most recently on 12 November last during my visit to the Irish Battalion for the closing ceremony in Camp Shamrock when I met with local leaders and appealed once again for information which might lead to the location of the remains of Private Joyce. In addition, each successive Irish Battalion from 1981 was tasked with pursuing the matter. During the tour of duty of the final Irish Battalion to serve with UNIFIL the battalion commander and his staff did everything possible to try to find new information in the matter. Prior to his departure from the mission area, the battalion commander was given assurances from all the figures with whom he had contact that any new information would be passed on to the relevant authorities.
Both my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs have given all due priority to efforts to locate the whereabouts of Private Joyce. Unfortunately those efforts have proved fruitless to date.
In April 2001 Private Joyce's brother and sister visited the scene of the incident in South Lebanon.
