Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have listened to the arguments made by Deputies on the draft Bill. However, I remain convinced that the proposal to introduce an additional bank holiday on 24 April every year is neither necessary nor advisable. The Ireland 2016 centenary programme has met with widespread support across the political, academic and community sectors. It has engaged communities at home and abroad in an unprecedented way and the benefits at community level and nationally cannot be underestimated. Its inclusive nature has enabled citizens to examine our history and encouraged them to consider the future of their communities. The local authorities developed their own individual programmes based on the national programme and this has encouraged active citizenship at local level and leveraged economic benefits across the country. The commemoration of the 1916 Rising, the historical moment which the State recognises as marking the birth of this sovereign nation, traditionally takes place over the Easter bank holiday weekend. In 2016 it saw over 1 million people on the streets of Dublin for a series of commemorative, reflective and celebratory events which were a great source of pride for all citizens. Feedback from members of the public and the media clearly indicated the very positive engagement of the general public with the commemorative events, as well as the extent to which citizens had felt a great sense of national pride and respect during this historic time. Easter Monday saw the largest public history and cultural events ever staged in Ireland, with more than 500 free talks, debates, exhibitions, music, theatre and other performances across a number of venues and zones in Dublin city centre. It was clearly demonstrated this year that the Easter Monday bank holiday could provide the appropriate space for a major public celebration to mark these significant and important commemorative events. Throughout the consultations on the Ireland 1916 centenary programme, the idea of introducing a public holiday on 24 April was not identified as a priority, nor was it recommended by the expert advisory group on commemorations or the all-party Oireachtas group on commemorations. I am looking at the steps necessary to re-establish the all-party consultation group on commemorations.

The introduction of a new public holiday would, undoubtedly, result in significant economic costs to employers and the Exchequer and could potentially impact adversely on the delivery of public services. This is not the time to heap additional costs on businesses, particularly when we are trying to deal with the unpredictability of the Brexit era.

I say to Deputy Eamon Ryan that I am all for women and supporting their role. I am pleased to say that in the past few months I have been able to appoint three very capable women as chairpersons of three cultural institutions. I agree with the Deputy that we need more women involved. He also talked about having more women involved in the church. I am glad to say that in the church I attend they are very much for women who are preaching just like everybody else. More importantly, the proposals contained in the Bill are not in keeping with the inclusive, respectful and measured approach adopted so far for the centenary commemorations this year which has sought to strengthen peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. I assure the Deputy that I am not divisive in any way. Throughout the commemorations I was very clear that I wanted them to be inclusive and respectful. The centenary programme included activities organised on an all-island basis. We had the all-island competition for schools, while a number of cross-Border and all-island events took place. Rising to Reconciliation was an event held in Belfast recently. I attended some events in the North and was very pleased to do so.

In the past few months my Department has been placing special emphasis on the re-imagine phase of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme to consider the long-term legacy and build on the momentum and very positive public response to the programme to ensure the positive learnings are harnessed and built on for the future. To this end, I am actively working on a significant legacy programme which will encompass the arts and culture sectors, with a specific focus on increasing participation in cultural events in every county. That would be a much more appropriate way to build on the success of the 2016 commemorations for the benefit of all citizens.

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