Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As we come towards the end of the session, on behalf of Fianna Fáil I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the staff of the House for their courtesy during the session. I particularly acknowledge the work done by Ceann Comhairle and the organisers of Dáil100 on the major events which bookended the session - the centenary of the First Meeting of Dáil Éireann in the Mansion House and the address by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ms Nancy Pelosi, yesterday.

A key part of the journey to Dáil100 was the Easter Rising, which will be commemorated across the country this weekend and next weekend. The learning of history from that period is essential and I ask the Tánaiste to reaffirm the Government's commitment and that of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, to the reintroduction of the compulsory element of history as a topic in our secondary schools. There are reports this morning suggesting that commitment is not as strong as was stated.

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