Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Participation in Remembrance Day Ceremonies.
- Army participation in Remembrance Day ceremonies 9 speeches
Treacy sought assurance that the Defence Forces would not participate, citing unrest and divisions. Cooney denied any unrest and said the Forces had not been invited to this year’s ceremony; the exchange included a dispute over Treacy’s claims.
Noel Treacy, Patrick Mark Cooney, Robert Molloy, Thomas J. Fitzpatrick
- National flags at the Remembrance Day parade 10 speeches
Treacy questioned the Irish flag’s prominence and whether Army members carried it. Cooney said it was honoured prominently but was not carried by Army participants last year; a UN standard was carried, and he said the Army regularly parades without national flags.
Noel Treacy, Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, Patrick Mark Cooney, Mr. Treacy, Robert Molloy
asked the Minister for Defence if, because of the growing unrest being caused within the Defence Forces and the concern and divisions being caused outside, he will make a statement indicating that there will be no participation by our Defence Forces in November's Remembrance Day Ceremonies.
Comment on this
There is no unrest in the Defence Forces about this matter.
The Defence Forces were not invited to participate in this year's Service of Remembrance and Dedication at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
Comment on this
The unrest may have abated but there is no doubt that there was unrest no more than a month ago and that there was also unrest last year. Can the Minister assure the House that the Defence Forces will not be allowed to participate again in these ceremonies?
Comment on this
I cannot accept that there was unrest in the Defence Forces. The Deputy has already displayed on a number of occasions his lack of knowledge on anything pertaining to the Defence forces. He has no way of knowing whether there was unrest in the Defence Forces. There was no unrest in the Defence Forces on this matter.
Comment on this
Might I point out that the Minister's statement as regards my lack of knowledge is a matter of opinion and I leave others to judge that.
Comment on this
Did the Minister think it fitting that our national flag should be relegated to a secondary position in a parade involving the Defence Forces? Is that the proper way to have Army participation? What is the Minister's attitude to this?
Comment on this
I was present at the ceremony concerned and, in fairness to the organisers, our national flag was honoured in a place of preeminence both this year and last year. I do not know who is feeding the Deputy with inaccurate information.
Comment on this
I was not there last year nor this year. Can the Minister clarify if the Irish flag was carried by the Irish Army last year?
Comment on this
It was not. No national flags were carried by members of the Army who participated in the parade. A standard of the United Nations was carried in that parade. The Deputy's statement that he was not present is regrettable.
Comment on this
Can the Minister clarify if it is normal procedure for the Army to parade without national flags?