Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Céad bliain ó shin, bunaíodh Fianna Éireann ag Countess Markievicz agus Bulmer Hobson. An bhfuil sé de rún ag an Rialtas comóradh a dhéanamh ar an ocáid sin i mí Lúnasa? The members of Fianna Éireann played a key role in the struggle for independence and many of its members made the ultimate sacrifice. Will the Government mark the centenary this year or support any commemorative events? Is the Taoiseach aware that a major auction house up the road from here this morning held what it called an Independence sale and that among the items put up for auction was the football used on Bloody Sunday in Croke Park in 1920 and an original copy of the 1916 Proclamation which belonged to Rory O'Connor and also letters from Pearse, Griffith and de Valera? Does the Taoiseach think it right that such precious items of our heritage should be allowed to be sold unrestricted with nothing to prevent them from being taken out of the country? Does he agree that the Irish people, through the National Museum of Ireland or the National Library of Ireland, should be given priority in terms of acquiring important documents and artefacts? Given the role of the Taoiseach's Department in sponsoring major historical commemorations, will he ask his Department and also the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to prepare legislation to protect our heritage? What is the position regarding the committee established to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising and why has it met only once since this Dáil was formed?

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