Dáil debates

Thursday, 4 October 2007

Other Questions

Commemorative Events.

3:00 pm

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made by the committee established to consider proposals for an appropriate commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1916 rising in 2016; the number of meetings held to date; when the committee last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22000/07]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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During the lifetime of the 29th Dáil, an all-party Oireachtas consultation group was established for the official preparations for the re-instatement of the traditional military parade at Easter and the commemorative programme to be put in place in coming years for the centenary of the Easter Rising. The group met in November 2006 and March 2007.

I expect invitations will issue soon to all party leaders to once again nominate spokespersons to serve on a successor group during this Dáil. In addition to their consideration of the commemorative initiatives in 2006 and 2007, members of the previous consultation group were invited to consider making nominations to an expert working group that would provide specialist and academic advice on the historic events and the commemorative proposals. This matter was left in abeyance with the dissolution of the Dáil but it is hoped to resume this discussion following the formation of a new Oireachtas group.

Officials of my Department and officers of the Defence Forces are members of an interdepartmental committee, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach. This committee was originally tasked with the commemorative programme for the 90th anniversary of the Rising and the annual commemorations appropriate for the years until the centenary. The committee has not met since the completion of the commemoration and parade in April 2007. I envisage that the committee will soon commence the preparation and planning in respect of Easter 2008.

A number of long-term projects are currently being pursued as part of the centenary commemorations. The initiative to bring into the public domain the remaining military history archives of the Defence Forces is being progressed. My Department will shortly be placing an advertisement in the national press with regard to the recruitment of archival assistants for this project.

The conservation work on the Asgard is continuing at the National Museum Collins Barracks with a view to completion in 2009. I was particularly satisfied to note earlier this year the generous donation to the National Museum of the letter written to General Maxwell by Pádraig MacPiarais prior to his execution.

I thank the members of the Oireachtas consultation group for the work done to date on the commemorations and their consideration of the centenary programme.

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I very much welcome the opening to the public of the military archive. If the commemoration in 2016 is focused mainly on military parades and so on, would that be the best monument to the men and women of 1916 and what they stood for? I put it to the Minister that to have social objectives achieved before 2016 would be a much more fitting monument to the people of 1916. They took a military road because they wanted to achieve something — like the founder of my party, they want to change what is to what ought to be.

As an example, the Government has a target in Towards 2016 to reduce the rate of illiteracy to one in six. How much of a monument is that to the people of 1916? Would it not be preferable if a programme were embarked upon, in conjunction with the other matters, to tackle issues such as the 30% rate of illiteracy in some schools, as well as problems with numeracy and homelessness? It would be best if these social problems were tackled in a focused and effective way so we would have an achievement that would really be a great tribute to those who made that huge sacrifice almost a century ago.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I agree it should not be an exclusively or even predominantly military occasion. That was the case for the 90th anniversary but we were reviving the celebration after it had lapsed for a number of years due to events in Northern Ireland and so on. I am strongly of that view, as was the previous Oireachtas consultation group, and I am sure the same view will be reflected by the new group.

We are appointing an expert committee to come up with ideas. It will be specifically tasked to develop ideas on how we should commemorate our social, economic and cultural progress. It will be a wide-ranging commemoration and while a military parade will be a part of it, it will not be central or predominant.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister will agree that the 90th anniversary commemoration was very successful and that the people were very impressed with what they saw. It was the first time many people actually saw our military in action in a major way and it gave out a very positive message, despite the military nature of the commemoration.

In so far as is possible, our military should be seen and we should be proud of their good discipline and organisation. Whenever an occasion arises to which the military can contribute, it should be encouraged to do so. Óglaigh na hÉireann is the legitimate Irish Army as defined by the Constitution. It is important it should be part of commemorating the Easter Rising, rather than any other so-called armies in this country. I would be well disposed to having the Army and the military more involved in commemorating events and more in public view than they have been.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I agree that the 90th anniversary commemoration was extremely successful. I appreciate the Deputy's kind remarks about the military, which I will communicate to the Chief of Staff.

It is not that we are ashamed of our military; we are very proud of them. My point to Deputy O'Shea is that it will be a wide-ranging commemoration, which will commemorate far more than the fact we have an established, well respected standing Army which has done tremendous work abroad. However, as well as commemorating matters such as our cultural, economic and social progress, we will also take the opportunity to showcase our military.

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Does the Minister agree that if the all-party consultation group is to suggest social objectives that would be put in place to honour the men and women of 1916, this needs to be done quickly? Whatever additional resources or personnel are needed to achieve those objectives, the process must start now because to overcome social problems takes time. We have a reasonable timescale but there is no time to waste. Does the Minister agree it is important to establish the new all-party consultation group quickly and impose a time limit for the group to return with recommendations so the work can begin?

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I agree the consultation group should be established shortly. I will arrange for invitations to be issued to the various party leaders. My view, for what it is worth, is that we should not confine the group to members of established parties and that we should get the widest range of opinion and perhaps invite one or two non-party members. I am in the hands of the committee. Whatever it collectively wants to do, I will make sure is carried into effect.

With regard to setting timetables, the Deputy is correct that while we have plenty of time, it is just one or two Dáil terms so we might as well get down to it as soon as possible. Invitations will issue to the various party leaders shortly. I would encourage future members of the Oireachtas consultation group to do what their predecessors did not do despite repeated requests, namely, to nominate academic and other specialists and experts to the group, who will then come up with concrete recommendations. I found it difficult — not through any lack of effort on my part — to get personnel nominated to serve on that group.