Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Tá obair ar siúil sa choiste sin agus tá an tAire in aice liom anseo ina Chathaoirleach ar an choiste. Beidh cruinniú i rith na seachtaine seo chun an dul chun cinn atá déanta aige a chur os comhair na baill eile sa choiste agus beidh siad in ann sin a phlé. Beidh cruinniú againn i rith na seachtaine. Beidh an Teachta in ann na hábhair is cúram dó a chur os comhair an Aire agus os comhair an choiste ag an am sin.

This is an important committee in which a great deal of work is going on under the responsibility of the Minister for Defence. The Department of Defence has been very much involved in the work. Submissions have been sought and made. The Minister will bring people up to date on its work when that meeting resumes. As one comes closer to the date in question there will be more frequent meetings but that is a matter for the committee to discuss. I do not want to anticipate what might emerge as a consensus on how we might proceed in respect of related events closer to that date. It is an important date and a great deal of thought must be given to how we can commemorate not simply its military importance but how we can bring forward ideas for cultural, social and other events that will do justice to the breadth of vision of the leaders at that time. They were progressive thinkers on equality and inclusiveness in every respect in their era.

SIPTU has commemorated its anniversary this year. It has applied to the commemoration initiatives fund, which is the subject of this question, for a contribution to the cost of publication of the political writings of James Connolly. This is part of a series of four volumes on his life. Two were published in 2005 and 2007 respectively. I am sure that application will receive due and proper consideration.

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