Defence Forces Personnel

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2016

Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Questions (434)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

434. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence if he will proceed with the Defence Forces operational service medal to be awarded for service on missions not governed by the United Nations, the European Union or similar mandates; and when the sailors on Operation Pontus and the members of the Defence Forces on the ebola medical mission in Sierra Leone will be paraded to receive the medal. [46649/15]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I am advised that a service medal that could be awarded for humanitarian service overseas, where no other United Nations, NATO or European Union Force medal is relevant, is currently at the planning and development stage within the Department. Once this process has been completed, I would envisage that arrangements for the awarding of such medals could commence soon afterwards.