Members on both sides of the House suggested there should be a memorial in honour of Irish personnel who died abroad on UN peace missions.
Mr John Connor (FG) said there should be a fitting memorial within the environs of Leinster House as our peace-keepers had gone overseas at the behest of the Oireachtas. Mr John Cregan (FF) agreed with some form of specific commemoration.
Referring to a Bill to protect UN workers, which passed the second stage, Mr Michael Lanigan (FF) said its provisions should be extended to overseas aid workers. Recalling that an Irish aid worker was killed in Lesotho a few months ago, he said legal provisions could be helpful in bringing to justice those responsible for such slayings.
Dr Mary Henry (Ind) said it was extraordinary it had taken so long to give effect to the relevant UN convention, especially in view of the widespread support in this State for the UN.
Ms Mary Wallace, Minister of State for Justice, undertook to convey to the Minister for Defence the sentiments of members on the need for a memorial.
Introducing the Criminal Justice (Safety of United Nations Workers) Bill, she said 77 members of the Defence Forces and one garda had lost their lives while serving with the UN.