Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Ar son an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, tá mé buíoch as seans cur in iúl don Teach cad atá á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas agus go mórmhór ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta faoi Cháisc i mbliana.

It is the Government's intention to mark, in the most inclusive manner possible, both the achievements and deep wounds associated with our transition to political independence. We will honour the 1916 leaders and in particular the seven signatories of the Proclamation of Independence, a visionary document which became the charter for Irish freedom. We should and will also honour both the statesmen who founded the Free State, as well as those who stood by the Republic, recognising that they were all patriots, who shared the same ultimate objective of full national freedom by one route or the other. We will also recall the suffering and loss of that time and emphasise the imperative of building a just and peaceful future for everyone on this island.

A number of events to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising are planned. One of these is the restoration of the military parade at the GPO by Óglaigh na hÉireann, the Defence Forces, which has been in abeyance since the early 1970s. The parade will reflect the evolved role of the Defence Forces and include significant representation of their peacekeeping service abroad with the United Nations.

The military parade is just one part of this year's commemorations. A number of other events for Easter week and throughout the year are being planned. On the education side, one of the initiatives will include a special supplement for schools in The Irish Times, including a map of the 1916 locations around Dublin sponsored by the Department of Education and Science. The Department also operates an annual Easter week 1916 commemoration scholarship scheme. The Easter week scholarships reward students for their exceptional performance in the leaving certificate examination and provides support to these students to continue their studies in higher education and in so doing to develop their potential and embrace their talent. These are highly prestigious and coveted awards, each of which is given in the name of one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation of Independence. The emphasis in the Department of Education and Science's plans to commemorate the Rising will be on providing educational material to schools and encouraging debate and reflection on the events of Easter week on that period of our history. There are no plans to provide a tricolour or flagpole to all schools, rather the focus will be on sending out educational materials.

On educational initiatives by other State bodies, the Deputy may be interested to know that the National Museum will hold a special exhibition. The National Library is also preparing interactive web resources of various aspects of the Rising including a display of its extensive range of photos from 1916. I would like to stress, as the Taoiseach has on several occasions, that in our reflections on 1916 we will be sensitive also to other traditions that share this island. We want the 90th anniversary of the Rising to be seen in a broad and inclusive context. The Taoiseach has said that he believes the only way to build a shared future is by understanding our shared past, not just the past of political leaders but of the ordinary men and women who shaped this island. To that end, commemorating 1916 is not intended to bolster a particular reading of history, but rather to advance a greater understanding of the period as a whole.

In 1966, the then Taoiseach, Mr. Seán Lemass, spoke of the contribution and highly motivated purpose of so many heroic young Irish people who gave their lives in the First World War. We cannot ignore that essential part of our history. We must be conscious of the trauma caused by the Great War throughout the length and breadth of this island. In July 2006, we will commemorate the Irish who fell at the Somme 90 years ago. Five thousand men of the 36th Ulster Division fell in the first two days of the battle in July 1916. They fought alongside 200,000 Irishmen from every county and their bravery was no less than that shown by the insurgents of Easter Week.

The loss to war of Irish people, whether they are Catholic, Protestant, Nationalist or Unionist, or whether they are lost on the streets of Dublin or the fields of Flanders, is a tragedy for us all. There are no hierarchies of sacrifice, suffering or loss, only grieving families and lost potential. We will be mindful of this and of the need to be inclusive when we commemorate both the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme this year.

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