Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Arranged by the Minister for Defence, the annual commemoration of the Easter Rising will be held at the General Post Office on Easter Sunday and the annual commemoration at the church and graveside of the executed leaders at Arbour Hill will take place on Wednesday, 8 May. The decade of centenaries programme is committed to following the historical timeline of the period 1912-1922. Therefore, commemorative initiatives in 2013 are focused primarily on the events of 1913, including the passing of the Third Home Rule Bill in the House of Commons, the 1913 Lock-out and later in the year the centenary of the founding of the Irish Volunteers. I am working with ministerial colleagues, the Defence Forces, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, national cultural institutions and academic and community partners on the programme of events for this year. The events of 1913 are of tremendous importance in understanding the revolutionary period and presenting the Easter Rising in context.

To ensure that the State produces a comprehensive, inclusive and authentic programme of commemorations an expert and independent advisory group on commemorations has been established, chaired by Dr. Maurice Manning. The group will commence a national consultation process on commemorations shortly with a series of meetings in regional centres at which they will seek suggestions and contributions from individuals and groups on commemorations in the decade of centenaries.

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