In 1980, there was an heroic act of courage by a young garda, just out of Templemore, who was stationed at Store Street station in Dublin. This act of heroism should be formally recognised as the important act of bravery it was. This was a young man starting out in his career, like so many gardaí who put their lives at risk for the safety of others on a daily basis.

On 28 January 1980, Garda Jeremiah Coonan, a native of Gortnagoona, Roscrea, County Tipperary, was on traffic duty in Dublin city when he noticed a crowd of people on O'Connell Bridge. As he approached, they shouted to him that there was a person in the river. He immediately ran up to the bridge on Eden Quay and saw a body floating in the water. He gave his coat and radio to a CIÉ inspector who was standing there before wading into the river and swimming to retrieve the man. He was assisted in the rescue by a couple of young men, one of whom got into the water to help in lifting the unconscious man up the steps to safety. Once safely up at street level, Garda Coonan started resuscitation. An ambulance arrived and he and the rescued man were both taken to hospital. Garda Coonan was back in uniform and ready for duty almost immediately.

I wish to draw to the attention of the Garda Commissioner the heroic action by Garda Coonan during the course of this incident resulting in the saving of human life. For some reason, he was never put forward for the Scott medal for valour, which is in the gift of the Commissioner to award. That oversight should be rectified as soon as possible. I intend to write to the Commissioner asking that he conduct a review of the circumstances arising in this incident, particularly those actions displayed by Garda Coonan in the line of duty. While the latter was complimented on his actions by his superintendent at the time, the matter never went any further. His heroic act should be acknowledged. Garda Coonan is a brother of a former Member of this House and the Lower House, Noel Coonan, and a cousin of mine. I want to put that on the record. The incident was covered at the time by the Evening Press and by RTÉ, a reporter from which happened to be passing by at the time. However, Garda Coonan's actions were never formally acknowledged. Members of his family would like to see that wrong put right. It is my intention to try to locate the other two men involved in this rescue in order that they too might be recognised for their bravery.

I ask the Senator to consider talking to the Ceann Comhairle and I about the national bravery awards, and the possible posthumous recognition of Garda Coonan with an award. As the Senator has said rightly, the State award is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, but certainly, there is a wrong that I hope we can have a conversation about. I call Senator Conway.

I stand today for one purpose, and that is to second Senator Wilson's proposal that this House play an active role in ensuring that Garda Jeremiah Coonan receives the Scott medal for bravery. I think it is an oversight. Anybody who saves a human life does something unique and precious, and something that really and truly is an act of humanity. In this case, Garda Coonan risked his life and went into a river not knowing the conditions, undercurrents and circumstances; not knowing the man who was in the river, his make-up or how heavy he was; or what the circumstances of his entering the river were. It is not good enough that a person like that, who just hands his coat and his radio to somebody and tells them that he is going to go in and rescue the man and is not going to let him die in the river, has not been recognised for successfully, with the help of others, taking the man's body out of the river and resuscitating him and reviving him, all of which resulted in the man living. To think he has not received the Scott medal, for whatever reason, is not good enough. It is a wrong that needs to be righted. I request that the Acting Leader asks the Leader to write to the Garda Commissioner in support of Senator Wilson's proposal and correspondence to the effect that Garda Coonan is awarded the Scott medal for bravery. I also very much welcome the Cathaoirleach's proposal that he and the Ceann Comhairle can assist in giving due recognition to an heroic act of bravery. It is never too late to do the right thing. The right thing in this case is that this person, Garda Jeremiah Coonan, is recognised. The fact that he is a brother of former Deputy Noel Coonan, a good friend of many of us here and a former Member of the House, is incidental, but it reflects the fact that the Coonan family put the service of people and their community above and beyond everything else. What Jeremiah Coonan did speaks volumes and needs to be recognised.

I reiterate that the matter of awarding of the Scott medal is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and him alone. I would not want us to think that we can interfere in that. However, it is important that we remember and reflect today on the service of Garda Coonan. We remember and thank him today. It behoves all of us to ensure that his memory is honoured in a very fitting way. I want to make that quite clear. I call Senator Cassells.