MINISTER FOR Defence Willie O’Dea has moved to distance himself from efforts to secure United Nations service medals for some 400 Irish troops who served in Chad saying the soldiers are not entitled to the medals.
His comments follow efforts by Fine Gael to secure the medals for troops whose service on the UN peace enforcement mission in Chad fell just short of the 90-day period needed to secure a medal.
Fine Gael’s defence spokesman Jimmy Deenihan TD has said he agrees with representations he has received from soldiers who say they should be awarded the medal.
He has written to the UN’s military adviser for peacekeeping operations, Lieut Gen Chikadiaba Isaac Obiakor, asking that the troops be awarded a medal. Lieut Gen Obiakor has responded saying the views of the Government on the issue were being sought by the UN.
However, in a statement issued by his office last night, Mr O’Dea appears to have firmly closed the door on the Government making any representations on behalf of the troops involved.
He pointed out that the UN makes the final decision on the medals but said the Irish troops at the centre of the case are simply “not eligible” for a medal.
“Owing to the importance placed on the award of medals and in order to preserve the sense of value and entitlement attached to same, it is policy that only one service medal is recognised per tour of duty and I believe this to be a fair system.”
Mr Deenihan said he was asking Mr O’Dea to take up the soldiers’ case. “Our troops represent us with courage and selflessness and this should be recognised in the form of a UN medal for their service in Chad,” he said.
Some 400 Irish troops deployed to Chad in January served their first number of weeks there as part of the European Union-run EUfor mission.
In March the UN took control of the mission.
The troops, from the 99th Infantry Battalion, had UN service just short of 90 days by the time they returned to Ireland last month at the end of their four-month tour.
The troops in question were awarded an EUfor medal because EUfor only requires 30-days service before a medal is awarded.
Many believed the UN would exercise its discretion and also award them a UN medal.
