Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2006
61 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the survivors of the Niemba ambush in the Congo in 1960 regarding their treatment by the authorities in the intervening years; if he will meet them and discuss their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17199/06]
View answerI undertook during Priority Questions on Thursday, 23 February 2006 to ask the military authorities to revisit this matter in light of the questions raised on that date. The Chief of Staff has appointed a senior officer to examine all aspects of the Niemba ambush in the Congo in November 1960. So far contact has been made with both survivors. One has been interviewed and the other is unavailable for interview until later this month. The examining officer has also contacted other interested parties at home and abroad. As the Deputy will appreciate, this process is ongoing and I will contact him when it has been completed.
I am delighted the Minister gave an undertaking on 23 February that he would take another look at the file, that he asked a senior officer to do so and that the matter is being pursued. My interest in this issue goes back 12 years, when one of the two survivors, Mr. Fitzpatrick, asked me to launch his memoir and I also met Mr. Kenny at that meeting. I put down a number of questions over the years to successive Ministers for Defence, especially to the current Minister's predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith, but my questions were stonewalled all the way. The recently published book, edited by David O'Donoghue, has brought up other issues and it appears that the Army records are quite inaccurate.
The two survivors are the only members of those events who have not been honoured. They have a long-standing grievance about the way they have been treated. They feel the authorities have neglected to give them proper credit and that they need to be dead to be honoured, which is quite wrong. It is almost half a century since these events took place, under the first UN-mandated service abroad for Irish troops. All of the people involved in the ambush should be properly honoured and they should be honoured equally. I am glad the Minister's senior officer will be meeting the survivors, but the Minister should also meet them. They were part of our first service in the Congo and they served on behalf of this country. Will the Minister meet them and give them the honour to which they are entitled?
I welcome Deputy Costello to this portfolio. I worked with him when I was a Minister of State in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and he was spokesperson on justice for the Labour Party. He did an excellent job in that portfolio and was a very effective spokesperson on justice.
I am aware of the Deputy's long-standing interest in this matter. The question raised on 23 February was raised by Deputy Finian McGrath. At that time, I gave an undertaking that the matter would be re-examined and we have now appointed a colonel to look into it. Unfortunately, one of the two survivors is not available for interview until later this month. When he comes back, we will bring the process to a conclusion fairly quickly.
The military hierarchy makes the decision to grant awards, honours, medals and so on. The civilian Minister for Defence does not make such decisions here. So far, I note that they have not considered granting medals to the two individuals concerned. I have no difficulty in talking to the military hierarchy about the issue and getting their views. I would also be delighted to meet the two individuals, as requested by Deputy Costello.
I am delighted the Minister has agreed to meet the two individuals. This is very welcome and I appreciate his approach to the matter.
There is a 30-year rule on State archives becoming available to the public. Does that rule apply to archival material of this nature in the military? There is a file on the Niemba ambush and some of the details in that file appear to be confidential. We have a 30-year rule for the release of normal State files to the public. Is that the same for military records?
The 30-year rule applies to some of the material retained by the military. I will check the files to which that rule applies. I do not know whether it applies to all of the data concerned, but I will check it out.
When will it be made available?
I will have to check it out first.
