Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
169 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for a public recognition by way of a memorial to acknowledge the sacrifice made by Irish seamen (details supplied) to ensure supplies into the country and to protect Ireland’s wartime neutrality. [33217/04]
View answerA memorial committee was established in 1977 to honour the seamen lost while serving on Irish ships during the Emergency, 1939 to 1946. The committee consisted of members of the Irish Association of Master Mariners, the Maritime Institute of Ireland, the Marine, Port and General Workers' Union and the Seamen's Union of Ireland. A site for the memorial, on City Quay in Dublin, was provided by Dublin Corporation and on Sunday 6 May 1990, the official opening of the memorial took place, presided over by the then President of Ireland, Dr. Patrick Hillery. The memorial consists of a 20 foot high monolith of Wicklow granite, fronted by a 17 foot anchor, and it bears the names of the seafarers and ships lost during the Emergency, including the crew of the Irish registered vessel, the Irish Pine.
I recognise the enormous sacrifice made by Irish seafarers who contributed towards maintaining supplies into Ireland during the Emergency period. I will give consideration to the form of any further recognition that might be warranted particularly with regard to the tragic loss on 15 November 1942 of the 33 crewmen of the Irish Pine. I will consult as necessary and I will revert to the House in this regard as soon as practicable.
