Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will ask a few questions but first I thank, in particular Mr. Michael Blanch, who has been dogged in this, to the extent sometimes that the question is asked, "What now?" It is brilliant when something comes from the grassroots up. The logic is there. I do not think anyone disputes Mr. Blanch's logic. Time and again, when other things that we thought were too important came across our desks, Mr. Blanch was there to ring us up and remind us.

I have a question about the website. Can a link be provided to the Lumper project that Mr. Blanch initiated? A link is now on the website of the Department of Education and Skills, but could one be provided on the existing sites? The link gives the history and explains how the planting and so on was done subsequently. It is an area of history in which I am very interested.

I refer specifically to the commemorations. I agree with this legislation. There are two Private Members' Bills, and it is very strange that one man managed to get two Deputies in different parties to produce Bills on this at around the same time. It is key that this date is fixed, and the only way of fixing dates thus far has been to tie them to a bank holiday. I will not go down the route of this argument. I have my own views and my own legislation on an independence day so I will not delay a Bill by adding to it and having this debate. I will have my own debate on this in the future. This legislation's proposal of a fixed date also serves the purpose of a national holiday, public holiday or bank holiday because it is fixed in time, whether it be the Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday. The important thing is that we know on which week this will take place. Furthermore, to prevent any confusion, the venue should be announced on the conclusion of the commemoration. This would be useful because it would allow the communities to put in their bid and allow the committee to have its role and, if at all possible, to make an announcement. If one is planning what is basically an international event, even though it is in Ireland, this is important.

Regarding the schools project or the community project, the only problem with the date is that one will not get secondary schools involved because on the third Saturday most secondary school pupils are doing their exams, and those who are not are facing into their junior certificate or leaving certificate courses. I know some of them will get involved because this is on their curriculum. If the project is in one's locality or in a small rural town, I can guarantee the witnesses people will be there because it could be the biggest event in one's lifetime if it is done properly, as it has been. This highlights a problem we have, which is that history has been slowly removed.