Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Tá sé de rún agam Ceisteanna Uimh. 4 agus 5 a fhreagairt le chéile.

Bhí baint ag mo Roinnse mar is gnách leis an gcomóradh bliantúil ar Éirí Amach 1916 ag Ard Oifig an Phoist an 12 Aibreán agus leis an Lá Comórtha Náisiúnta ag Ospidéal Ríoga Chill Mhaighneann an 12 Iúil.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá leithroinnt de €170,000 tríd an gCiste Tionscnamh Comórtha déanta ag mo Roinn faoi fhomhír E de na Meastacháin i mbliana le cuidiú le tionscnaimh chomhórtha. Tá an maoiniú sin ann le cuidiú le daoine aonair agus le grúpaí agus iad ag eagrú comóradh daoine aonair nó imeachtaí lena mbaineann tábhacht ó thaobh na staire.

Go dtí seo, tá maoiniú tugtha i dtreo chostas Pháirc Shíochána Mhaigh Eo agus i dtreo foilseacháin a dhéanann comóradh ar chothrom 150 bliain bhunú Bhráithreachas Poblachtach na hÉireann. Tá maoiniú geallta freisin le comóradh a dhéanamh ar chothrom 200 bliain shaolú William Gladstone, do chomhdháil an Institute for British-Irish Studies (IBIS) ar thraidisiúin Phrotastúnacha iolracha in Éirinn, d'Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann d'fhoilsiú "Judging Lemass" agus do Bhailiúchán Béaloidis an Tuaiscirt le haghaidh foilseacháin le comóradh a dhéanamh ar bhunú Choimisiún Béaloideasa Éireann 75 bliain ó shin.

Tá na socruithe do 2010 fós á bplé. Chomh maith le himeachtaí in Éirinn, féachfar freisin ar cheiliúradh ar shaoirse 200 bliain ó shin i Meicsiceó, san Airgintín, in Uruguay agus sa tSíle agus an ról tábhachtach a bhí ag daoine a saolaíodh in Éirinn nó ag sliocht Éireannach mar Admiral William Brown chun saoirse a bhaint amach.

Shamhlóinn go dtiocfadh Ranna Rialtais agus Gníomhaireachtaí Stáit chun cinn le moltaí a dhéanfar a cheiliúradh in 2010. My Department was involved as usual in the annual commemoration of the Easter Rising at the GPO on 12 April and the National Day of Commemoration at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham on 12 July. In addition, my Department has allocated €170,000 through its commemoration initiatives fund under subhead E of its Estimates this year to support commemorative projects. This funding is available to assist individuals or groups in organising the commemoration of individuals or events of historic importance.

Funding has been given towards the cost of the Mayo Peace Park and towards a publication to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Funding has been also committed to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of William Gladstone, to the Institute for British-Irish Studies, IBIS conference on the plural Protestant traditions in Ireland, to the Royal Irish Academy towards the cost of the publication Judging Lemass and to the National Folklore Collection towards a publication to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Irish Folklore Commission next year.

The arrangements for 2010 are still under deliberation. In addition to events in Ireland, consideration will be given to marking the bicentenary of the independence of Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile and the significant role that Irish-born or Irish descendents such as Admiral William Brown played in their transition to independence. I envisage that Departments and State agencies will come forward with suggestions for commemorations in 2010.

See this speech in context