43 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Defence if a service medal will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) who served in the Army; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19928/04]

The criteria for qualification for the award of service medals to non-commissioned officers or privates is governed by the terms of Defence Force regulations, which provide that the minimum qualifying period for the award of a service medal is 3,650 days of continuous service in the Permanent Defence Force. Service in the First Line Reserve may also be aggregated for the purposes of meeting the service qualifying period.

I understand that the person in question served in the Army in the rank of private for a period between 1922 and 1924, which would not be sufficient time to qualify for such a medal.