Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2004
561 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence the support he will give the Lebanon veterans in their efforts to organise as a group and participate in parades and such like Army and civilian events; if their request for a disused armoured car for display will be considered and dealt with as soon as possible; if a submission made to his Department by that group will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24995/04]
View answerUnder the provision of the Defence (Amendment) Act 1990, representative associations have been set up for serving personnel of the Permanent Defence Forces, RACO and PDFORRA, and the Reserve Defence Forces, RDFRA. The Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, ONE, is the recognised organisation for former members of the Defence Forces. The Irish United Nations Veterans Association, IUNVA, represents the interests of serving and former members of the Defence Forces who served overseas with the United Nations. I consider that serving and former members of the Defence Forces are adequately represented and the question of my Department giving recognition to other groups is not one that arises.
A request for a disused armoured car was received by the executive branch of my Department on 28 September 2004. This request is currently being examined and a reply will issue to the relevant organisation in due course.
