Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Feb 1996

Vol. 460 No. 8

Adjournment Debate. - Irish Rwanda Support Group Payments.

Mrs. O'Rourke

I thank the Chair for giving me the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment. As the Minister of State is aware, it concerns the shabby and dishonourable treatment meted out by the Army authorities and political figures from many quarters to the 37 Irish soldiers who went to Rwanda in August 1994 where they worked in Goma on the Rwanda-Zaire border for 16 weeks. Prior to their departure they were addressed by the then Chief of Staff, A.J. Wall, who informed them that they would receive specific duty allowances and various other emoluments. They returned home prior to Christmas.

In autumn 1994 everyone in the country was exercised by the plight of the people of Rwanda. When she visited the country the President praised the soldiers concerned for the work they were doing in a spirit of generosity and humanity. That work would not have been done by many others. All the agencies with whom they worked paid tribute to their diligence and commitment. All over Ireland school children and people of all ages made donations to help in whatever way they could.

In the intervening period the rate of progress in processing this matter has been unsatisfactory. Anything received had to be wrested from the Army authorities and was given grudgingly. I understand that the needs of the officers who served with GOAL have been met. I am not making their case, but that of the enlisted personnel whom I have met on a number of occasions during the past four weeks. I know what I am talking about. They are incensed that the Army authorities have been inactive in the payment of any moneys due.

When its suits us to do so, we pay due tribute to our Army personnel. When he spoke in this House President Clinton lauded and paid a moving tribute to our troops for the work they have done in foreign fields. We all appreciate their efforts. The dilatory way in which their grievances have been addressed in this instance — they are seeking the payment in full of the moneys they were promised prior to departure — reflects badly on the Army authorities and political figures responsible in Dáil Éireann. I appeal to the Minister of State, in his capacity as Government Chief Whip, to see that justice is done.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. J. Higgins)

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the subject raised by the Deputy as it provides me with an opportunity to set the record straight in relation to this issue.

The House will recall that the Government announced on 20 July 1994 that special leave, with pay, would be arranged for public servants wishing to assist Irish aid agencies in the humanitarian relief operation being undertaken in the Rwanda/Zaire area at that time. There was an immediate and exemplary response from military personnel to requests for volunteers to serve with aid agencies and I take this opportunity to commend and thank them again for the contribution they have made to helping the innocent victims of conflict.

Following requests for the despatch of Irish troops to aid the famine relief efforts, the Government also agreed to send a small Defence Forces contingent as part of the Irish aid effort. The Irish Rwanda Support Group consisted of 37 personnel who were based in Goma. The personnel in question, while seconded to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, in a civilian capacity, were operating de facto as a military unit under the control of an Irish officer in charge and were at all times subject to military law.

Personnel of the Defence Forces serving overseas in a military capacity receive allowances in respect of such service. Therefore, when the fact that the personnel seconded to the UNHCR were operating as a military unit was raised under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force, and bearing in mind the combination of difficult working conditions, daily personal risk and the degree of separation from their families, officials of my Department proposed that an ex gratia payment should be made to those personnel. Under the terms of the conciliation and arbitration scheme agreed with both PDF Representative Associations, such discussions are confidential and it would be inappropriate, therefore, to go into the details of the offer made. However, the original offer, which was generous, was subsequently increased following discussions with the representative association and was accepted by RACO in March of last year. The offers made have been discussed at the Defence Forces Conciliation Council with PDFORRA on many occasions and have been rejected by the association.

An imprest of £1,000 against the overseas allowance was paid to each member of the IRSG before they departed.

The personnel who served with the UNHCR did so in a voluntary capacity, as did all the other public servants such as doctors, nurses and engineers who used their skills to assist in the aid effort in Rwanda. None of those people, including personnel of the PDF who served with non-governmental agencies such as Concern and Goal, has either sought or been offered any form of compensatory payment by the Government. The ex-gratia payment which was offered to PDFORRA on behalf of the UNHCR personnel continues to be available to them should they wish to accept it.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.20 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 6 February 1996.