Seventy serving and retired members of the Defence Forces have been awarded medals to recognise their service overseas.

Among those who received the International Operational Service Medal were Irish naval personnel who took part in the mission to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean.

They included crew members who served on board the L.E. James Joyce, the L.É. Eithne, the L.É. Niamh and the L.É. Róisín.

The Minister with Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe presented the medals at a ceremony held in Dún Laoghaire Harbour this afternoon.