Civil Defence volunteers presented with medals for help during pandemic

Civil defence volunteers wait for the arrival of Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Coveney for the presentation of Civil Defence Covid 19 medals at Croke Park in Dublin to honour volunteers for their efforts during the pandemic Picture date: Tuesday November 29, 2022. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Civil Defence volunteers should be “immensely” proud of the “enormous” contribution they made during the global pandemic, the Defence Minister has said.

Simon Coveney described the volunteers as an “essential cog” in Ireland’s frontline emergency response to the spread of coronavirus.