Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I wish the Minister well with the work in front of him. I encourage him to put this name forward to be the lead Minister on commemorations because he has an interest in this area. In the past, the Minister for Defence worked with the Taoiseach on the 1916 commemorative committees. However, these events would be more appropriate to the Minister's remit. Given the major challenges we face, it is a key programme. I suggest that, as the Minister with responsibility for heritage, Deputy Deenihan should consider the area of Moore Street and the proposals made by the families. Will the Minister meet the families of the signatories and consider the proposals made in terms of saving what is left of Moore Street and its tie-in with 1916? Will the Minister consider properties owned by the OPW and relevant to our revolutionary past? We are approaching 100 years of commemoration, from 1913 to the founding of the State, where we can look at the past and learn lessons from it. Major commemorative events can be identified and I hope the Minister and the Taoiseach can produce a list of key commemorative events. Forthcoming events require a great deal of planning and will not be planned in the months before. Planning must be done many years ahead. The 1916 commemoration is not too far away, given the size of the commemorative event. The 1913 lock-out, the founding of the Irish Volunteers and the National Volunteers and the Fenian rising are other such events. Events took place in Kerry during the Fenian rising that are often forgotten about. Across the country, local areas will look to the Minister on this point. I hope money will be found because tourism can benefit from this.

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