Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Defence the preparations his Department is taking for the military parade on 16 April 2006 to mark the 1916 Easter Rising 90th commemoration; if he will march in the parade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7484/06]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide further details of preparations being made in advance of the military parade in Dublin on Easter Sunday to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising; if the inaugural meeting of the planning group involving representatives of the Houses of the Oireachtas has taken place; the agenda for its consultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7175/06]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans for the 90th anniversary commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising; his further plans to accommodate the family representatives of deceased soldiers from 1916 until the foundation of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7562/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 52 and 166 together.

The Easter Rising of 1916 will be commemorated by a military parade in Dublin on Sunday, 16 April 2006. Preparations for the parade, as announced by the Taoiseach last October, are being made by the Defence Forces. Approximately 2,500 personnel representing all branches of the forces together with representatives of ex-service personnel and veterans of UN service will be included. The parade will also include members of the Garda Síochána, representing their service abroad with the United Nations. A fly-past by the Aer Corps is also envisaged.

The parade will depart from Dublin Castle and will pass through Dame Street, College Green and O'Connell Street. There will be a reading of the proclamation outside the GPO and appropriate military honours will be rendered. The event will be televised live and it will be possible to view the parade along the route from Dublin Castle to O'Connell Street. I will be present on the viewing stand at the GPO.

This 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising will also be marked by a wreath-laying ceremony in Kilmainham Gaol earlier that morning and by a Government reception at Dublin Castle that evening. Officials of my Department and officers of the Defence Forces are represented on an interdepartmental working group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, which is overseeing all the logistical arrangements for the parade and associated events. This group is meeting regularly and includes, inter alia, representatives from the Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council, the fire services and the Office of Public Works. Many logistical issues such as the parade route, road closures, health and safety regulations and publicity must be addressed and the group is dealing with these issues.

The group is also dealing with the issue of invitations to the viewing stands outside the GPO. The invitations being issued for the ceremonies this year include the relatives of the 1916 leaders and volunteers who were killed in action in 1916 based on the list used for the annual Arbour Hill commemoration.

As the House can appreciate, there are space limitations in O'Connell Street which restrict the number of places on the reviewing stand to approximately 900 people. Provision must be made for the categories which normally, in part or in whole, make up the invitation lists for State events. These include the Government, the Council of State, Deputies, Senators, the Judiciary, the diplomatic corps, semi-State organisations, social partners, national cultural and sporting organisations and the universities.

On the invitation of the Taoiseach, all parties in the Oireachtas have nominated spokespersons to offer advice on the appropriate scope and content of a 1916 centenary commemoration committee to be put in place in coming years. I understand that the first meeting of this group will take place next week.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am glad to hear that the reading of the proclamation will take place. Does the Minister agree that a central part of the preparations and celebrations should be to take the 1916 Proclamation as a yardstick of how we have progressed as a nation? Does the Minister believe that this Government guarantees the equal rights and equal opportunities of all of its citizens? Does he believe this Government cherishes all of the children of the nation equally?

How does he think the men and women of 1916 would feel about our Taoiseach, who spends €550 a week on make up? That is more than the average industrial wage.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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That is not an appropriate question in this regard.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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He expects the taxpayer to pay for his vanity. How would those people feel about the movers and shakers——

Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy must confine himself to the question.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I will confine myself to the question.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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For a change.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The central question is the 1916 Proclamation.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The question is about the celebrations.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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How would the men and women of 1916 feel about the movers and shakers in the Galway tent who buy access and opportunity? How would they feel about the blatant inequalities——

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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That is not an appropriate question.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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——in our health system?

Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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The question is on the Easter celebrations.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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How would they feel about the corruption and how would they feel about the fact that the Acting Chairman's constituency colleague, Deputy Wright, goes unpunished for taking sops from developers?

Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Gormley must resume his seat.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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No, I want to continue. My final question——

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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A relevant one for a change.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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This is relevant.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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For a change.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I take it from the Minister's reply that he will not march in the parade. That was my question. I am somewhat surprised and relieved, given the Minister's past performance. I expected that he would lead our Defence Forces up O'Connell Street, perhaps brandishing a pistol, pointing it at the cameras——

Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Gormley must conclude.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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——and using it for a cheap photo opportunity. Will the Minister state why the committee has not met to date, despite many promises? Many of my colleagues were told the committee would meet. There has been no such meeting.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The question was about the organisation of the 1916 celebrations and I intend to confine my reply to that matter specifically. I outlined already to Deputy Gormley those who will march in the parade. It will be Defence Forces, ex-servicemen, United Nations veterans and members of the police in recognition of their service abroad. As I do not fall into any of those categories, ipso facto I will not march.

The other matters are completely beside the point. Regarding the question on why the committee has not met, I attempted to organise a meeting this week. Representatives of Sinn Féin, the Technical Group and Fine Gael were all prepared to accommodate it. Unfortunately, the Labour Party's nominated person, Deputy McManus, was not available. She thought the notice was too short and that is fine. We will arrange the meeting for next week.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Briefly, regarding Question No. 52, I did not catch the statement which the Minister made. Has the inaugural meeting of the planning group involving representatives of the Houses of the Oireachtas taken place? If not, why not?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I stated that I tried to organise it for this week but due to the Labour Party's spokesperson being unavailable, for understandable reasons, it will take place next week instead.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I welcome the concept and plan to commemorate 1916. Does the Minister agree that part of the celebrations and commemorations should include all political persuasions, inside and outside the House, and ensure that all traditions and all religions, including Catholic, Protestant and dissenter, are involved in the celebration? Does the Minister agree that Independent Deputies and members of the Technical Group will also have an important role to play on this committee?

Does the Minister accept that successive Governments have turned their backs on the 1916 commemoration during the past 30 years? This is sad for our country and nation, when compared with the celebrations in France and Independence Day in the United States. We should celebrate it, particularly with regard to issues of equality.

Part of any celebration or commemoration, especially in light of the teachings of James Connolly, should be programmes, projects and investment targeted at the most disadvantaged of our society. That would be a true commemoration of the men and women of 1916.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I am sure people of all persuasions and religious beliefs and none will be able to join in celebrating the sacrifice of the men of 1916. In so far as celebrating the other traditions, we will also have a commemoration for the people who died in the battle of the Somme in the first week of July. The Government will be represented on the annual national remembrance day as usual. I agree with Deputy McGrath that Independent Deputies and their representatives have an important part to play. That is why the Taoiseach decided they should be part of the steering committee. I look forward to hearing their contributions.

I do not agree with the Deputy that successive Governments turned their backs on the situation for the past 30 years. It was an annual event until 1971, when the Government decided to discontinue it because of the difficulties in Northern Ireland. I take the Deputy's point about France and the United States. However, they did not have a similar situation to what we had in 1971. I was not involved in politics at the time. I understand the Government was advised that it was inappropriate to celebrate 1916 with a military parade at a time when part of this country was engaged in major strife. We have decided to revive the tradition and I am glad of that.

Regarding focusing on disadvantage and wider cultural events, Deputy McGrath or his representative on the steering group will be able to input. We are reviving a tradition and a ceremony that took place up to 1971, which was a one-day operation involving a military parade followed by a reception in recognition of the people who participated and their relatives. What Deputy McGrath mentioned is appropriate. However, it is more appropriate to the centenary celebrations, which will be a major event and will continue for more than one day. We look forward to hearing the Deputy's contributions in the committee.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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I agree that the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising should be marked. The Minister's party probably discovered how many people watched its Ard-Fheis through the number of people who immediately afterwards picked up on the announcement. When I heard it I was concerned that it would be just a military parade. That would have reflected only an element. The fundamental reason it should be celebrated is not the event itself, but why it took place.

My grandparents took part in the Rising in the Four Courts, and I have done some research into my family history. I would like to see more done in the context of a solid archive rather than a military history. There is substantially more that could be done. If one wants to find out about people who participated in the Rising, one must go to approximately six or seven different locations, including the archives in Kew, outside London. The material held there would be more appropriately held in this country so people in the lower echelons can find out about the Rising without having to travel to the UK.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for her support and I take her point. As it is unfortunately only a one-day event the military parade will be the centrepiece. Other events will include the wreath-laying ceremony at Kilmainham Gaol. There will also be an opportunity for a social occasion in the afternoon for invitees and relatives of those who participated. We will meet them and they will be invited to the State reception in Dublin Castle that evening. Other events not necessarily on the day will include the moving of The Asgard to the National Museum, the unveiling of a plaque in the Garden of Remembrance to people who died in United Nations service and the production of commemorative stamps both for the Battle of the Somme and the 1916 Rising. I take the Deputy's point about the archives and the difficulty of research. It is a good point and has been mentioned to me before. I have asked my officials to look at it and will renew my conversation with them in light of the Deputy raising it. If she wishes I will write to her about it in the coming weeks.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The time has expired for this question.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I have no objection.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I support the concept that the State will celebrate one of the events that led to the founding of the State. It is inappropriate that it be just a military parade. It is a pity civic society is not being encouraged to be involved in the 90th anniversary. Hopefully steps will be taken as we go towards the 100th anniversary to ensure civic society in all its forms will be involved. When does the Minister intend to produce a list of the events the State is organising for the 90th anniversary? It is just over a month away and the Minister does not know all the details, which is a pity from the perspective of getting society involved. People have full diaries. Hopefully in the next few years the event will go beyond the single day and a military parade. That was fine in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s but when we can have huge parades involving civic society on St. Patrick's Day we should ensure something similar or bigger is held on future anniversaries of the Rising.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I take the Deputy's point. I cannot announce all the events because there is a window of opportunity in the afternoon of the day itself. The parade will take place in the morning followed by a reading of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic outside the GPO. At approximately 7 p.m. there will be a State banquet in Dublin Castle. We had envisaged Government members meeting relatives of the survivors in a social setting.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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That is all of Irish society.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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If Opposition parties have other useful suggestions or ideas for what we could do in the afternoon I am willing to take them on board.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Much has been covered. I would have been available to attend today's meeting of the centenary committee. I understand the Minister is chairman of that committee. The centenary is almost ten years away. Perhaps we could put the centenary committee back a few weeks until after Easter lest there be any confusion. The Government has organised the events for the 90th anniversary. While there is a certain urgency on the part of the Department of the Taoiseach to have a meeting, we have waited 90 years and another three or four weeks will not matter. The Minster will be away next week. It might suit to hold the meeting after the 90th anniversary celebration lest the centenary committee take the blame for the contention associated with this year's celebrations. Are any of the people who were in the GPO in 1916 still alive? I know the half-brother of one of them is still alive.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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We are going ahead with the meeting next week because while it is the committee's main function to begin planning the centenary in ten years time——

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister still be chairman of the committee in 2016?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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We want to give the committee representatives an input into the immediate event. They may come up with some useful suggestions for the afternoon rather than the high-society event. Next week I have a meeting with the President of Liberia and have to visit our troops there and see the situation. People from the Taoiseach's office will chair the backup committee and I will be ably represented at that meeting by my intelligent and versatile colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche. I do not know whether anybody who was in the GPO in 1916 is still alive.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Will the committee include representatives of all the parties?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Yes it will include representative of the Labour Party, Fine Gael, the Technical Group and Sinn Féin. I thank everybody, Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Timmins, representatives of the Technical Group and Deputy Gregory who kindly agreed to change their schedules to be available today. Unfortunately Deputy McManus was not available so I did not want to go ahead in her absence.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Awkward again.

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I marched in the 50th anniversary military parade as a then member of the FCA——

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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So, the Deputy has paramilitary connections.

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I might expect that from the other side of the House but not from my Independent colleague.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I apologise.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I am saying nothing.

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I welcome the return of the parade. As there is a full day's celebration planned does the Minister feel it would be fitting that the principles and aspirations of equality of opportunity and cherishing all the children of the nation equally for which the men of 1916 fought, and as outlined in the Proclamation, would have a central and fitting role in the one-day 90th anniversary celebration? I am sure the committee will examine this issue in greater detail for the 100th anniversary. To have a solely military approach to the 90th anniversary is wrong and does not commemorate in a fitting way what the men and women of 1916 fought for. Would the Minister look for some way that this aspect of the heroism of those people could be commemorated to make it a fitting 90th anniversary celebration?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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We are reviving what went before until 1971, an annual celebration the centrepiece of which was a military parade. We have the chance to change it. On the Deputy's suggestion that we do something in addition to the military parade to commemorate the principles underlying the Proclamation, I am open to suggestions. We have a window of opportunity in the afternoon after the military parade and before the State reception. I am open to practical suggestions on how that can be done.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Returning to my central point, which was taken up by Deputy Gregory, I ask the Minister to confirm to what extent the political idealism outlined in the Proclamation will be celebrated and analysed. How does the Minister feel that the Ireland of today measures up to those ideas? Does the Minister think — this is a genuine question — that the men and women of 1916 would be happy if they were to see the Ireland of today?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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First, my party has no need to reclaim nationalism from anyone. We are the constitutional nationalist party and will continue to be such.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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So is our party.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I already answered Deputy Gormley's second question in my reply to Deputy Gregory. If the Deputy has a practical suggestion to make on how we should commemorate those principles, I will be quite prepared to listen to it. He can make suggestions either directly to me or through the committee.

If the 1916 men were to come back today and see the wonderful and terrific strides we have made over the years, they would be proud to see we are one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. We are a country that cherishes all the children of the nation.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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That is not the case.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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We cherish all the children of the nation much more equally than they were cherished in 1916. We are a far more equal and prosperous society and an infinitely better society. I would prefer to live in 2006 than in 1916.