Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

It is envisioned that the framework for commemorations of the decade of centenaries relating to the period 2012 to 2022 will be developed by officials and approved by Government. Particular commemorative initiatives and arrangements for them will be brought to the all-party group. That is the key point I wish to make. There has been a significant level of engagement with various interested parties in regard to the programme, on both a North-South and an east-west basis. From an overall perspective, the Government's approach to these commemorations will seek to respect historical accuracy, promote tolerance, respect and inclusiveness, and recognise the all-island and east-west shared past nature of the decade.

One of the cornerstones will be the military service pensions archive project, the purpose of which is to make the records in question available to both the public and to historians in good time for the centenary.

To finish the job of the men of 1916 is to have peace on this island, which we have, and unity of purpose, North and South. It is not to finish the job in a military sense-----

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