John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I perused the budget for 2015 and discovered that €22 million has been allocated for seven flagship capital projects at the GPO and Kilmainham. There are plans for ceremonies, parades, cultural and youth projects, plus events concerned with the diaspora and language. I read the document or package in front of the committee some time ago and, like everyone else, I have read bits and pieces about the commemorations in the newspapers. Can Mr. Hamill tell me how the Department will commemorate the people who died in 1916? There were roughly 64 Irish Volunteers killed, and 16 were executed, 254 civilians were killed, 116 British soldiers were killed and 16 policemen or RIC men who were all Irish were killed.

I have seen nothing in what I have seen so far from the Department to indicate how everyone who was killed during the Easter Rising will be remembered. For me, remembering them is the most important. The commemorations seem to be based around parades and cultural events which is fine as people enjoy them. I have seen no indication of thought being given to remembering the people who were killed in 1916. Can the Secretary General give an idea whether anything is being planned?