Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
697. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has reviewed the role the Government and the UN played regarding the siege of Jadotville, including the secrecy surrounding those events upon the return of the men of A Company 35th Infantry Battalion following the ambush; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41687/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen I addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, the year we marked the 60th anniversary of Ireland joining the United Nations, I recalled the great pride that Ireland takes in the loyal service of Irish peacekeepers which has been central to our engagement with the UN since 1958. In my role as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade I have had the privilege of seeing at first hand the important contribution Irish troops make and the extremely difficult and challenging circumstances in which we call upon them to serve.
The men of A Company 35th Infantry Battalion were among the first of a long line of Irish men and women who have served with bravery and distinction under the United Nations flag in the cause of peace. It was entirely appropriate that the Company was honoured with a unit citation last September in recognition of their bravery and heroism.
My Department has worked closely with the Royal Irish Academy in relation to its “Documents in Irish Foreign Policy” series and I was pleased to launch Volume X last November which deals with the period 1951 to 1957. I look forward to working with the Academy on the next volume which it is expected will include 1961, the year in which the siege of Jadotville took place.
This series of documents is a vital resource for anyone interested in Ireland’s history and in the shaping of Irish foreign policy. The publication of such research, as well as related documentaries and films, provides an important resource for informing the public of the courage, in the face of overwhelming opposition, which was displayed by the men of A Company 35th Infantry Battalion.
