Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 October 2017
41. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of ceremonial public events that the Defence Forces have participated in alongside members of other military forces, excluding those events associated with our peacekeeping obligations, to date in 2017; the locations where these events took place; the military forces involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43812/17]
View answerThe Defence Forces have provided ceremonial support alongside members of other military forces in a number of ceremonial public events both here and abroad to date in 2017.
The level of participation is determined by my Department in consultation with the Military authorities and is dependent on the scale of the event in question and the availability of Military resources.
On 30 March 2017 in Ballyhaunis, the Defence Forces participated in a Commemoration to mark the 50th anniversary of Cpl. Patrick Gallagher, United States Marine Corps (RIP) who was killed in Vietnam on 30 March 1967. The Defence Forces provided an Honour Guard, Musicians and Wreath Bearer Party consisting of 12 persons. The Commemoration involved the participation of members of the US Marine Corps.
On 12 May 2017, the Defence Forces participated in a ceremony in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin to mark the Unveiling of a number of Victoria Cross Stones by Minister Heather Humphreys and Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. The Defence Forces provided 22 persons consisting of an Honour Guard, Colour Party, Musicians, Wreath Bearer Party and a Master of Ceremonies. The UK Military also participated in the ceremony with the provision of a Colour Party.
On 7 June 2017, the Defence Forces participated in two Ireland/UK joint wreath laying ceremonies in Messines, Belgium to mark the centenary of the Battle of Messines. One ceremony took place at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Wijtschate and the second was at the Island of Ireland Peace Park. The Defence Forces provided 15 persons consisting of a Colour Party, Musicians, Wreath Bearer Party, Chaplain, Reader and a Master of Ceremonies. The UK Military were also involved in these ceremonies.
On 30 July 2017, the Defence Forces participated in a Commemoration Ceremony in Ypres, Belgium to mark the centenary of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) and provided one Reader for the ceremony. This event was organised by the UK authorities and readers from Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Germany also participated in the event.
