Longford-Westmeath Independent Deputy, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, has welcomed the news that members of the Defence Forces are to receive a new medal to recognise their involvement with international humanitarian missions.
Defence Minister, Paul Kehoe, has announced that the new medal will be known as the Defence Forces International Operational Service Medal. It will be awarded for the service of personnel deployed on humanitarian missions.
“I had a number of meetings with the Minister on this issue since entering Government and I am very pleased to welcome this announcement as I know it means a tremendous amount to serving personnel and to their families,” Deputy Moran said. “This recognition is long overdue. These humanitarian missions, by their very nature, are very difficult assignments and place a lot of demands on the personnel who are serving under extremely stressful conditions at times.
“The awarding of the medal for humanitarian missions is fully deserved for the contribution that the Defence Force personnel make on these assignments. I know in the past that members of the Defence Forces in my constituency found it very difficult to receive formal recognition when serving on such missions.”
