John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I support the Sinn Féin motion which is supported by Fianna Fáil. The commemoration of the Easter Rising and the importance of Moore Street is an issue of national significance. I hope when the vote is taken tomorrow, the House will not divide on this issue. In 2007, the Fianna Fáil Party in Government introduced a national preservation order to protect the site. All sides have strong views about the need for this important site to be given the recognition and respect it deserves. The centenary of the 1916 Rising is a source of immense pride for this country and it is essential the campaign to preserve and protect the national monument at Moore Street continues to be an entirely cross-party campaign.

I come from Enniscorthy in County Wexford and I grew up on stories of Seamus Rafter, Thomas Weafer, Liam Mellowes and all the various people who were involved in 1916. Henry Gough, a local historian, wrote in his book, Proclamation, about the significance of Enniscorthy in the 1916 Rebellion. It was one of the few areas outside of Dublin that rose to support the colleagues in Dublin. Pádraig Pearse visited Enniscorthy to address the troops and to rally them to ensure their support. We grew up on the history of 1784, 1798, 1848 and 1867. Henry Gough wrote it was little wonder that the spirit of 1798, nurtured by folk memories and oral tradition and kept alive by the Young Irelanders and the Fenians, should be reawakened at the foot of Vinegar Hill and that the rebellion in Wexford, Enniscorthy in particular, during Easter Week was the most significant event outside of Dublin.

Deputy Ferris in particular will know that every year Enniscorthy Town Council holds its Easter commemoration ceremonies in the morning and Sinn Féin holds its commemoration in the afternoon. The Liam Mellowes commemoration is held on the Sunday nearest to 10 December and the Fianna Fáil commemoration is held in the morning while the Sinn Féin commemoration is held in the afternoon. I hope that between now and 2016, we could come together in Enniscorthy to hold one significant commemoration.

Even before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Enniscorthy Town Council invited the now Deputy Gerry Adams to come to the celebrations in the morning. He was unable to attend but the now Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness came instead. Prior to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Deputy Adams was invited to a hurling game between Tipperary and Wexford in Belleville in Enniscorthy when I was chairman of the club and prior to him speaking on Vinegar Hill. Enniscorthy has a history of leading the way in the area of peace and harmony and I hope Enniscorthy and Wexford will not be forgotten when the Minister is organising the 1916 celebrations.

We are speaking about the significance of Moore Street and I wish to remind the House of the significance of Enniscorthy. The Government is not up to speed with regard to the commemoration of 1916. County Wexford 1916 Bicentenary Trust Limited was set up in 2006. It is a cross-party committee that is now preparing the way for the 2016 celebrations. From the experience of how the 1798 Rebellion was celebrated, I know the committee will do justice to the memory of the men of 1916 who fought the good fight. Etchingham was to the fore and the Enniscorthy Echo is still going strong. It was one of the very few newspapers to support the Rising in 1916. The Minister comes from a strong and proud tradition in County Kerry. I ask him to ensure 1916 is celebrated in the way it should be and also that the Sinn Féin motion supported by Fianna Fáil and other political entities, will be accepted by the Government in the spirit in which it was tabled. I ask him not to divide the House so that we can go forward together as Wexford did when celebrating the 1798 Rebellion and which it will do again with the Wexford 1916 Bicentenary Trust Limited.

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