I want to express on behalf of the House my sincere sympathy to the family, relatives and friends of the late Corporal Dermot McLoughlin who died so tragically last weekend in the service of the United Nations peace-keeping forces in Lebanon. He died in the service of his country and, moreover, to endeavour to keep peace in the world. The House should offer its sympathy to the family.
Death of Soldiers in Lebanon: Expression of Sympathy.
Sir, I think it is only proper that you should be joined in this expression of sympathy by a representative of every group in this House. We take great pride in the contribution which our Army makes to the United Nations peace-keeping operations. At moments like this we realise the price that we pay for that particular pride. Our deepest sympathy must go out to the family of Corporal McLoughlin but I think that they too, in the midst of all their grief, can feel proud that, though his life was lost, it was lost in one of the most worthy causes in which life can be lost, the attempt to preserve universal peace.
I would like to join with you, Sir, and the Leader of the House in the expression of sympathy which has been offered to the family of the late Corporal Dermot McLoughlin. We extend our sympathy equally to the Chief of Staff and the Irish forces in general and, in particular, to the troops who are serving with the current UNIFIL battalion in southern Lebanon. The work undertaken by the UNIFIL forces for many years has been of tremendous benefit to the people of southern Lebanon and, indeed, were it not for their presence there the situation in that country would be totally untenable. I have had the privilege on a number of occasions of visiting the area of operation of UNIFIL and we can see how very well the Irish troops carry out their duties under a mandate which is not as strong as it could be. They are working in a very difficult situation and they are not helped at all by the very many problems associated with the area in terms of the very many groups who are involved in terrorism acts there. Unfortunately in this instance we cannot suggest that this act was the act of a so-called terrorist organisation. It was the act of the representatives of a state with which Ireland is supposed to have friendly relationships and for that reason it is more reprehensible than any act which has been carried out against Irish troops or the UNIFIL troops ever before.
I do not want to say very much more except to suggest that even though the grief of the McLoughlin family is great at this time we acknowledge that the work of the late Corporal McLoughlin was of great humanitarian value. I was speaking last night to some representatives of the Lebanese people and they feel that the continuance of UNIFIL in that area is very necessary. Control of that area is mandated to UNIFIL. I sincerely hope they will be allowed to stay in the area and ensure that a semblance of peace is accorded to the people of southern Lebanon.
On behalf of the Labour Party I want to join with you, Sir, and leaders of the other groups in extending our deepest sympathy to the McLoughlin family on the tragic death of Corporal McLoughlin in the service of peace-keeping and of the Irish force. It is a tragedy that the circumstances surrounding his death are so questionable in all our minds. I sincerely hope that the Government in actively considering our future role in UNIFIL in Lebanon will not allow events like this to trigger them into making decisions that would mean that the deaths of Corporal McLoughlin and others in the past were in vain. We must not be rushed into a decision about withdrawal from UNIFIL in their major role of peace-keeping in a troubled part of the world where the United Nations and their peace-keeping forces are required to protect life and limb every day of the week. Tragic as is the death of Corporal McLoughlin, I hope it will serve to make people aware of the need to have UNIFIL in that part of south Lebanon. The Labour Party wish to be identified with the tributes to him and the expression of sympathy to his family, his widow and children.
I should like on behalf of the Independent group to join in the sympathy which has been offered to the McLoughlin family. It is particularly tragic that we are joining today in offering sympathy to a family who have been struck by tragedy previously. On that account our hearts go out to them all the more. Nevertheless, I agree with other Senators that they can take pride in what their son has done and in the general work of UNIFIL in south Lebanon in the difficult area in which they are placed.
Like Senator Lanigan, I have been in that area and have seen for myself the work the Irish forces are doing. I join with Senator Ferris in saying that I hope this tragic occurrence will not compel us to feel we must withdraw our troops from UNIFIL, because the presence of UNIFIL is absolutely essential there. It appears that the presence of the Irish troops in the area has meant that villagers who used to live there and who had been driven out by the fortunes of war were able to return to their homes peacefully under the protection of UNIFIL. Even if that was the only thing they achieved, it is a great humanitarian work to have carried out. I would like to see their work continuing. The Irish armed forces have played an extremely distinguished part in the leadership of UNIFIL and also in the leadership of the truce forces in Jerusalem. We can be very proud of what they have done. I know if we continue to support them we will be very proud of them in the future. I would like to join in expressing sympathy to the family who have suffered so much. I also wish to express the pride which we must all feel.
I want to express, on behalf of my own party and perhaps on behalf of the Northern Senators who are unable to be here today, my sympathy with the family of Corporal McLoughlin and indeed our understanding of our pride in the work which is being done by the Irish Army in Lebanon. Perhaps we live closer to the reality of the tragedy which has struck the McLoughlin family. We live with it every day in Northern Ireland. I wish to join with the other parties in the House in expressing our sympathy to the family.
On the last sitting day of the Seanad before Christmas I mentioned, in the context of a motion before the House, how unacceptable it was that a nation with allegedly friendly relations towards Ireland, that is Israel, should have murdered or cause to have murdered a soldier of the Irish Army. That was before the tragic death of Corporal McLoughlin. While the House joins in the expressions of sympathy to his family, we also must send a message to the Israeli Government that it is not acceptable that that nation, either itself or through its surrogate, the South Lebanese Army, should consider Irish troops to be fair game in such murders. This House should make its voice heard in that regard. It is not acceptable. I agree with the Senators who said that the Irish UNIFIL forces should complete their mandate and should never be driven from any area where they are engaged in peace-keeping operations. But we should say loudly and clearly to the Israeli Government, thus far and no further shalt though go in terms of the Irish troops.
I would like to be associated with the remarks of the previous speakers. We had the same tragedy in Athlone a month ago with the death of Private Liam O'Brien. Last night I was in the home a young Army man who has just come back from Lebanon for a short break of two or three weeks. He told me he had met Corporal McLoughlin who was on his way back after a short break. Certainly for them it was a bitter blow and it was obviously damaging to their morale. As I said before Christmas — and the point was made by Senator Magner — there is a message here. I accept that we have a moral responsibility in the cause of world peace. I accept that our Army like to go overseas for peace-keeping duties for many reasons. First, they see it as important and they think they are not full soldiers unless they have worked overseas. They feel good having come home from Lebanon and other places where they are helping world peace. As stated by Senator Magner, we should explain to the Israeli people that our men are not there for cockshots, that they should be given a chance to get on with the job they are there for — to keep world peace. As a friendly nation they should have responsibility. The Israeli Defence Minister, Mr. Rabin, should be told this. I was absolutely dismayed that he could give no assurances to our Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Toole, that this would not happen again. It has to be spelled out loud and clear that is we are to fulfil a role we should be given a chance. If this continues then obviously the Government will have to review the situation.
Members stood in their places.