An Cosantóir

9 As Supreme Commander of the Irish Defence Forces, may I send a warm Christmas greeting to each and every member and to your families. This year, 2021, was another very challenging year. It was one during which we continued to battle with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Defence Forces continued to support us all and to justify the great pride with which Irish citizens regard our Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. I thank the Defence Forces for what is their critical contribution to the nation's pandemic response effort, assisting, as they do, the delivery of the national vaccination plan, testing, contact tracing, patient transfer, test sample transportation and so much other crucial logistical and infrastructure support. May I take this opportunity, too, to recognise the sacrifices made by the Irish Defence Forces, in particular in relation to leave forgone, and may I express my thanks in a special way to their families, particularly in this challenging context of pandemic. This past year has been a complex year for the conduct of CHRISTMAS MESSAGE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE From Uachtarán na hÉireann President Michael D. Higgins To the Irish Defence Forces overseas operations, with Óglaigh na hÉireann currently deploying over 890 soldiers on 12 overseas missions around the globe, six of which are UN missions, missions selflessly committing to the cause of peace and international security. To date, Ireland has participated in over 20 peacekeeping missions and completed over 70,000 individual tours. It is the Irish Defence Forces that has the longest unbroken record of overseas service with the United Nations of any country in the world since first deploying to a United Nations mission in 1958. In September this year, I had the privilege of hosting, in Áras an Uachtaráin, the Irish Defence Forces Values Awards, which recognised the honourable actions of seven serving members of the Irish Defence Forces. That was an inspiring occasion, giving me the opportunity to acknowledge not only the outstanding service of seven exceptional individuals, but also the heroic work of all of their colleagues who serve in our Defence Forces. This year, 2021, also saw the Naval Service celebrate its 75th anniversary, with celebratory events in Dublin and Cork in August and September. Some significant, indeed historic, staff changes took place this year. May I congratulate Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy who took over, in September, from outgoing Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM. On 25th May, Ireland's first female Brigadier General, Brigadier General Maureen O'Brien, was appointed by the United Nations as Deputy Military Advisor in the Office of Military Affairs, Department of Peace Operations. May I make special reference in the context of the events of this year to the Defence Forces Emergency Civil Assistance Team for their operation, in support of the Department of Foreign Affairs, in which personnel were deployed to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, to assist Irish citizens, residents and visa holders to evacuate amid the evolving humanitarian crisis in the country. The peacekeeping work you do is so vital, and you do so in a time when humanity is faced with unprecedented challenges of a global kind - including dealing with the human consequences of climate change, the challenge of the achievement of a just and sustainable development, responding to global poverty, hunger, and of course bitter conflict. I would like to conclude by thanking and commending each one of you for your service, for the valuable contribution you make to the cause of peace and justice across the globe, and for providing security and defence to the Nation on land, at sea and in the air, day and night, 365 days a year. This year, once again, many of you will be separated from loved ones during the festive season as you serve at home and abroad. May I assure you that the people of Ireland greatly appreciate the generosity that this involves from you and your families at this time of year. On their and my behalf, may I wish you all a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

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