Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

No, what I envisage is a military parade, but much smaller in numbers. Perhaps it should be built around an occasion, rather than a full military parade. What happened this year would not be sustainable for every anniversary of Easter Week. Nonetheless, there should be a commemorative event each year, but it does not have to be on the same scale.

As regards the Famine, I have met representatives from some of the groups that have written to me. If we can find a suitable way to commemorate it, I would be in favour. Deputy Rabbitte is aware that the suggestions vary from a national holiday, to a designated day of remembrance to annual and localised commemorations. I have told those involved that if we can agree on a particular event, I will consider it. However, there is a range of events every year. Some 20 years ago this House did a very good job in introducing a national day of commemoration that covers many events, particularly people who died at home or abroad, either under the Irish flag or that of the United Nations. Every year there is a great amount of pressure for commemorations. It is a good thing that we commemorate such events, and the list of programmes is already in place for next year, many of which will have commemorative stamps and events.

There is the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls, the 400th anniversary of St. Anthony's College, Louvain, the 350th anniversary of the death of Luke Wadding, the 400th anniversary of the Honourable Society of King's Inns, the 150th anniversary of the opening of the National History Museum, the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the centenary of the national anthem, the 300th anniversary of the birth of John Wesley's younger brother, Charles and the 50th anniversary of the Institute of Public Administration. There is the Viking heritage and a visit to a reconstructed longship in 2007, to commemorate the eighth to 11th centuries. There is passionate interest in these by groups which make tremendous presentations to me. Whatever Deputy Rabbitte believes about my ability to make them feel good, most of them will be highly annoyed that I will not devote the entire commemorative budget to their respective needs. He will appreciate there is a small amount of resources available. Every year I find myself giving bad news to ten or 15 organisations, and we pick very few. That is the hard reality

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