Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2016
495. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason Louth Civil Defence did not take part in the 1916 commemoration parade on 27 March 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38783/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCivil Defence was invited to provide up to 100 volunteers to represent the organisation as part of the contingent of State emergency services in the Easter Sunday Commemoration Ceremony and Parade in Dublin on 27th March 2016. Nominations to participate in the parade were requested from the local Civil Defence Units throughout the country. Twenty-two of the thirty-one Units submitted written nominations. The number of nominees submitted exceeded the permitted limit. However, no nominations were received from Louth Civil Defence Unit.
The volunteers selected from the units that submitted written nominations to represent Civil Defence then undertook an extensive training programme in foot-drill in preparation for participation in the parade.
While twenty-two of the thirty-one units were represented in the parade, members from other units, including members of Louth Civil Defence assisted their colleagues in other duties on the day. I would like to thank all members of Civil Defence for their contribution to events commemorating the centenary of the Easter Rising, at both national and local level throughout the year.
