Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Taoiseach has taken questions Nos. 1 to 13 together. These cover a wide range of issues, including commemorations, Northern Ireland and various meetings he has had or will have. With regard to his meeting with the British Prime Minister later today, can he tell the House what matters he expects to discuss with Prime Minister Cameron. On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish him well in those discussions. Is it his intention to discuss the Saville report on Bloody Sunday and what views will he express to the Prime Minister on it? Does he intend to have any discussion with the Prime Minister in respect of the security situation in Northern Ireland and, in particular, the activities of dissident republican groups? Recently, a large bomb, which, fortunately did not go off, was detected in Aughnacloy. This activity is a worrying development. Does the Taoiseach intend to have any discussion with Prime Minister Cameron on the implications of yesterday's UK budget for Northern Ireland, both in respect of public expenditure in Northern Ireland and in respect of the future of the tax regime, particularly with regard to VAT and corporation tax?

On commemorations, I read the speech the Taoiseach gave recently and welcome its contents and the approach outlined with regard to how the decade of commemorations should progress. However, while I know that in an address of that sort not everything can be included and there can be omissions, I was a little surprised that there was no reference to the 1913 lock-out, an event in the labour history of this country which should be remembered and reflected upon. I was also surprised that there was no specific mention of the first Dáil. I appreciate we commemorated the first Dáil recently, but in the context of the centenary commemorations, it should be included. The Taoiseach referred to the all-party committee. I understand the committee does not meet regularly and the most recent meeting was last December. Does the Government intend that the commemorations that are due to take place over the course of the next decade will be organised and managed on an all-party basis?

See this speech in context