Before starting the next business, I ask Members to join with me in expressing our deepest condolences to the family of the soldier killed in the ambush in Lebanon, Private Seán Rooney, from Newtowncunningham in County Donegal and to the families of the two soldiers injured. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Death of Private Seán Rooney: Expressions of Sympathy
Táimid aontaithe faoi scamall bróin inniu tar éis bhás saighdiúra chróga a bhí ag fónamh sa Liobáin. Déanaimid caoineadh lena theaghlach agus molaimid crógacht na ndaoine atá páirteach ann. Tá a fhios againn go mbraitheann gach duine in Óglaigh na hÉireann nó sa bhaile an caillteanas seo. Tá ár gcuid smaointe agus paidreacha le pearsanra uile Óglaigh na hÉireann inniu. We are united in grief at the loss of a brave Irish soldier, a young man serving Ireland and the United Nations in Lebanon. We mourn with his family and salute the bravery of everyone involved. Today we are a nation united in grief. We know this loss is felt by everyone in the Defence Forces, Óglaigh na hÉireann, whether overseas or at home and our thoughts and prayers are with all Defence Forces personnel and their ongoing service, commitment and courage.
Yesterday just after 9 a.m. Irish time, members of the 121st Infantry Battalion of UNIFIL were on their way to Beirut in a convey of two armoured vehicles when they came under small arms fire. Four Irish personnel sustained injuries and were brought to Raee hospital near Sidon. Tragically, Private Seán Rooney, was dead on arrival. The other soldier, Private Shane Kearney, remains in a serious condition in ICU. Two other personnel sustained minor injuries. A Defence Forces medical officer and chaplain are currently at the hospital. There will be a full investigation into this fatal incident and this evening the Minister, Deputy Coveney, who is in New York, will meet with the UN Secretary General to discuss the sad loss of our Irish serviceman and the inquiry to follow. The Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Chief of Staff have said the Defence Forces will do everything to provide care and support to the bereaved families and those of the injured, as well as providing ongoing support for all of the personnel in Lebanon.
Every day of the year, far from these shores, hundreds of Irish soldiers stand guard for the cause of peace and human rights. In various UN missions, they join colleagues from around the world to form what is a thin blue line. The very first Irish peacekeepers arrived in Lebanon in 1958 when 50 officers joined the UN observer group on the border between Lebanon and Israel. Today there are Irish officers in places as far apart as Mali, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and the Golan Heights.
Five years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Tibnin, where a memorial stands to commemorate the more than 40 Irish peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving in Lebanon and to lay a wreath in their memory. I remember it well and it was a poignant and stark reminder of the danger in which Irish personnel place themselves every day. I also witnessed the close links between Irish forces and the local community in south Lebanon. It was one of those moments where the boundaries of culture, language, race and religion fall away and we are reminded of our shared humanity.
The Irish battalion in south Lebanon has helped restore stability to an area that was once wracked by conflict. It showed clearly why our personnel continue to serve with distinction around the world to end conflict and bring stability and peace. Today the House is united as we mourn this sad death and pray for the injured. Let us think of that memorial in Tibnin, the loss it commemorates and the hope it symbolises. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Early this morning, the shocking news reached Ireland that a member of our Defence Forces serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon had been killed. Private Shane Kearney and two others were also injured. We hope and pray for their speedy recovery. I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Private Seán Rooney of Newtowncunningham in County Donegal, the soldier killed, as they try to cope with an immense and overwhelming loss. It is devastating news to receive at any time, but that this family will bear this sudden and incredible grief at Christmas is truly heartbreaking. No words expressed in the Chamber will be enough but I hope the family will take what comfort they can from the knowledge the people of Ireland hold them in our hearts and thoughts.
My thoughts are also with the members of the Irish Defence Forces, Óglaigh na hÉireann, especially those serving overseas. I will make special mention of those serving with UNIFIL and the soldiers of the 121st Infantry Battalion for whom the coming days and weeks will be especially difficult. Our peacekeepers are heroes. They define the Irish spirit of courage, compassion and caring and our inherent desire to keep people safe. This tragedy underscores the very serious risks and real danger they face in the name of peace. They carry out their duties on the ground with communities and protect people by putting their lives on the line. We do not, nor will we ever, take for granted their bravery, integrity and inspiring sense of duty.
We also recognise the resilience of their families who often go for very long periods without seeing them. The legacy of Irish peacekeeping missions for decades stands as a testament to the very positive role our Defence Forces play in a challenging world - a world that is often volatile, violent and unpredictable. Our peacekeepers bring calm, stability and safe haven by working to prevent war. By standing for protection against suffering, our peacekeepers have done Ireland and humanity some service, and it is for these reasons the people of Ireland are so very proud of all of them. It is for these reasons the death of Private Seán Rooney, an Irish peacekeeper so far away from his home, reverberates with grief to the four corners of our small island, from the country he went away to serve. It is for these reasons we stand in sorrow with his bereft family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Tá teaghlach agus náisiún in éide bhróin tar éis bás tragóideach coimeádaí síochána Éireannaí sa Liobáin. Is nuacht fhíorbhrónach é. Tá caillteanas á fhulaingt ag a theaghlach agus a chairde. Léiríonn an tragóid seo an baol agus na contúirtí atá roimh bhaill ár bhfórsa síochána le blianta fada anuas in ainm na síochána ar fud an domhain. Tá muintir na hÉireann chomh bródúil as an oidhreacht síochánaíochta. Today, a family, a community and a nation mourns.
I will join the sentiments expressed by others in expressing my deepest condolences to the families of all those affected by this horrific news from Lebanon, in particular the family of Private Seán Rooney who was killed on duty while serving his country and the United Nations on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. I also extend my deepest condolences to the family of Private Shane Kearney who we hear has been injured and to the others injured and, indeed, to the families of all those who are serving abroad in Lebanon and on other UN missions for Ireland at this time.
We are all conscious of the immense courage of our Defence Forces personnel and the immense sacrifice both they and their families give in being away from home for so long. It must be especially hard at this time, with this shocking news, for the families of all Defence Forces personnel serving overseas and, indeed, for all of those who are abroad on peacekeeping missions. The Defence Forces have a proud, well-deserved reputation and record as peacekeepers in Lebanon and elsewhere. We have a very strong international reputation as peacekeepers and, yet, this horrific news reminds us of the serious and immense danger faced every day by our peacekeepers abroad. It also reminds us of the 47 other Defence Forces personnel who have been killed while serving overseas. We are all thinking of them and their families at this time. On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend my deep condolences, sympathies and thoughts to the families of all those affected and I hope and wish for a recovery for those who have been injured in this horrific attack.
News of the death of an Irish peacekeeper, Private Seán Rooney, in Lebanon has caused profound shock and sadness throughout Ireland. Ireland has a long and proud tradition of UN missions in Lebanon. However, this is a stark reminder of the dangers and risks that our soldiers face in conflict zones in the quest for peace. My immediate thoughts are with the victim's family, friends and colleagues in the Defence Forces and with those injured in the incident. Along with my party colleagues in the Social Democrats, we wish them a full recovery during this extremely difficult and traumatic time. As a nation, we stand in solidarity with those members of the 121st Infantry Battalion who remain in south Lebanon and acknowledge their unwavering commitment to maintaining peace in the region. The Defence Forces play a unique role in that they put themselves in harm's way in the name of peace. We are forever grateful to them. This reminds us of the dangers they place themselves in for that cause. I offer our deepest sympathies.
On behalf of People Before Profit, I express our deepest condolences to the family, friends, community and comrades of Private Seán Rooney. They received the most horrific, shocking news about the death of their friend, family member or colleague. The whole country shares in their sorrow, stands with them and expresses solidarity with them at this difficult time, with the loss they are experiencing. Our thoughts are also with the soldiers who were injured, particularly Private Shane Kearney, who I understand is still in hospital. The whole country wishes for him to make a full recovery. Our solidarity to their families and to the men themselves.
The grim news that we all heard this morning has had a big impact right across this country, in every single home, as we come up to Christmas. On my behalf, on behalf of members of the Regional Group, and of Deputy Cathal Berry, I extend my heartfelt sympathy to the Rooney family and to the community of Newtowncunningham on the tragic death of Private Seán Rooney. Seán's death reminds us all of how difficult and dangerous the work is that our Defence Forces personnel carry out in such volatile regions on behalf of each and every one of us and of the State. Seán has made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of international peace.
I also take this opportunity to wish a full and speedy recovery to all those who have been wounded. My thoughts and those of my colleagues are with the entire defence community at this time, both overseas and at home, serving and veterans, and their families too. When those of us who come from towns with Army barracks hear such news headlines breaking in the morning, we all take a deep breath because we are all impacted and we do not know where, how or what news will come out. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been impacted by this tragedy. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I express our deepest sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Private Seán Rooney. I wish a speedy recovery to Shane Kearney and the others who were injured and traumatised by what I understand was a very hostile situation and serious incident. Irish peacekeepers are recognised all over the world. I visited Lebanon with Deputy Noel Grealish some years ago and heard first-hand how they are held in high regard, as they are in many other areas of the world where they have served, going back to the Congo and beyond. My hometown, Clonmel, had a proud tradition with an Army barracks. There is a huge connection with the people. When we heard this chilling news, whether late last night or early in the morning, we immediately thought of the families. There are a number of families from my village, including the Corcoran family and the Fitzpatrick family in the next village, Castlegrace, with members who are on that mission, but they are thankfully well. They will need our support, prayers and continued counselling, because it was and will be traumatic, especially with the time of year, as we approach the holy season of Christmas. It is so difficult. It reminds us of the vulnerability of our proud Óglaigh na hÉireann. We must ensure it is a peacekeeping role that they maintain and will continue to do that, not other ideas that people may have for them, because life is too precious. A young, gallant man has had his life swept away and others have been injured. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
I extend my sympathy to the family of Private Seán Rooney on his tragic death in Lebanon this morning, at such a young age of 23. Young men of that age are charged with representing Ireland in the Army on such missions. His colleagues would all be very proud of the work they are doing in Lebanon, which is very important. It is sad that it has come to this ultimate sacrifice from somebody so young. I send our best wishes to his colleagues, including Private Kearney, who was injured. I wish him the best. I extend our sympathies to the families at this difficult time.
I recall an Oireachtas trip a number of years ago. A delegation went to Egypt. We happened to meet the secretary-general of the Arab League to discuss various important issues. Before we could say a word, he said that he wanted to say that they will never forget what Irish peacekeepers have done in Lebanon. He said that when militia came to attack a village, Irish soldiers held the line and said, "You shall not pass. We will keep the peace." That may be little comfort to the Rooney family this morning but I hope that our thoughts and prayers go to them. We recognise that our soldiers, including Seán, put themselves at risk for the highest values, highest purpose and most important need, which is for us to try to protect peace in the world. The loss for his family and friends must be colossal. It is also remembered by the rest of the country. It is a loss for us all. I pray that Shane Kearney and his colleagues who were wounded make a speedy recovery and, please God, return home for Christmas.
Mar a dúirt an Tánaiste, tá an tír uilig faoi scamall an bhróin. Seasfaimid le chéile i ndíol cuimhne Seán Rooney.
Members rose.