I welcome the Minister for Defence, Deputy Smith, and his officials. Before we proceed with today's business I call the Minister for Defence to offer his sympathy to the family of the late Private Kedian who was tragically killed in southern Lebanon in the last 48 hours.
Expression of Sympathy.
I wish to express my deepest sympathy and that of the Government to the parents and sisters of Private William Kedian from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, who was killed while serving as a member of the 85th Infantry Battalion in Lebanon. Private Kedian paid the ultimate price in the cause of peace.
I also express my sympathy to Private Ronald Rushe from Boggagh, County Offaly, who sustained serious injuries in the same incident. He is now stable after a major operation. Private Darren Clarke from Swinford, County Mayo, sustained minor injuries. I wish both soldiers a speedy recovery.
It was a tragic day for the Defence Forces which reverberated across the country. Peace-keeping is risky and 18 Irish soldiers serving with UNIFIL have been killed in action in Lebanon since Ireland joined the operation there 21 years ago. We are deeply sorry about these events. I met the Kedian family and the burden they must carry for us is very great. Go ndéanfaidh Dia trócaire ar a anam.
I join with the Minister in expressing the sympathy of the Fine Gael Party to the families of the members of our Defence Forces who were killed and seriously injured in Lebanon. I express sincere sympathy to the family of Private William Kedian from Ballyhaunis. It was desperately upsetting news for them and it brings home to everybody the dangerous work which members of the Defence Forces do in Lebanon and throughout the world. Members of the Defence Forces have lost their lives in the past and this was another tragic incident.
I also express our sympathy to Private Ronald Rushe and Private Darren Clarke and their families. I hope they recover from the injuries they sustained. I also express our sympathy to the members of the 85th Infantry Battalion in Lebanon. There is a wonderful sense of camaraderie and professionalism among the troops there. It will have been a very shocking evening for them, despite the fact that they deal with this type of situation so frequently and professionally. The impact of this incident will be great on the entire battalion serving there and I welcome the moves the Minister has made in taking up the matter at UN level and through diplomatic channels. That is most appropriate in the circumstances.
All members of the committee send their deepest sympathies to the family of Private Kedian. As the Minister said, he paid the ultimate price. The Army gets much abuse at times but, in these circumstances, one sees that they are dedicated people. As Deputy Fitzgerald said, they are highly professional and much of their work in Lebanon often goes unnoticed. It was an unfortunate and tragic accident and the committee's sympathies go to the Kedian family. We also hope that those who were injured will make a speedy recovery. The sympathy of the committee will be sent to the families involved.