Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach his plans to re-establish the all party committee in preparation for the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6040/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is my intention to re-establish the Oireachtas consultation group on the commemorative programme to be brought forward for the centenary anniversaries in the period to 2016. A substantial commemorative programme should be brought forward in respect of the events leading to the foundation of the State. With the passing of almost a century, most people in Ireland today have had little direct contact with the generation of that revolutionary era. It is important therefore that we commemorate the actions and acknowledge the achievements that have shaped modern Ireland.

In this endeavour, we should reflect not only on the military history of a difficult struggle but on the principles and vision which inspired the movement to achieve independence. It would be appropriate that a broad and inclusive commemorative programme would bring to attention the economic and social conditions of the period, the cultural tides and the connectedness of the Irish abroad in this national effort.

I am aware of the keen interest in the Oireachtas and widely among the public to contribute to the development of the centenary commemorative programme. I will contact all party leaders shortly with a view to re-establishing the consultation group at an early date.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The coming decade is filled with many important anniversaries, including the signing of the Ulster covenant, the 1913 lockout, the Easter Rising and the general election of 1918. Aontaím leis an Taoiseach go bhfuil a lán suim ag muintir na tíre agus daoine eile ar fud an domhain san ábhar seo. Tá a fhios ag an Taoiseach gur bhain mná agus fir páirt san eirí amach ar son saoirse na hÉireann, ar son tír neamhspleách agus ar son fíor-phoblacht. Níl an phoblacht sin ann fós. Ní bhfuair siad bás ar son an IMF nó an EU. I welcome his commitment to establishing the committee but can he advise us when it will be put in place?

Mindful of the events of 1916, can he ensure every effort is made to restore and preserve Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street, where the leaders last met before their surrender? Nos. 14 and 17 Moore Street constitute a legally designated national monument but are under threat from a developer. An aontaíonn an Taoiseach leis an moladh atá ann ceathrú 1916 a fhorbairt i mBaile Átha Cliath?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the previous Taoiseach nominated the then Minister for Defence to chair the consultation group, which comprised Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh from Sinn Féin, Deputy Deenihan from Fine Gael, Deputy Costello from the Labour Party and Deputy Lowry as an Independent. The Green Party was satisfied that the Minister for Defence should be the sole representative of the Government. I would like to establish the consultation group before Easter. This is an issue which needs to be addressed sensitively in light of the broad range of views held about 1916 and various other issues. The Deputy will also be aware of the establishment of a Unionist centenary council. These are issues in respect of Ireland and we need to be cognisant of them.

I took the opportunity some time ago to visit Nos. 14, 15 and 16 Moore Street. The previous Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government placed a preservation order on No. 16 and there were plans for a major redevelopment of Carlton site. It is a confined area but it contains the lanes of history from the time those men and women emerged from the side of the GPO and went in through the side of the buildings to get to No. 16. Physically, the structure does not at present look particularly appealing as a national monument. This is an issue in which I have a particular interest and I will discuss the matter with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government shortly.

I would like to set up the consultation group before Easter, as part of which I hope those who come behind us will be able to understand the locations and the circumstances which led to the foundation of this State and its achievement of independence as one of the first small states of the 20th century. That is important and I believe we can have modernity beside tradition, where one can enhance the other.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I commend the designation of that quarter. It is a hugely historical site encompassing the withdrawal from the GPO up Moore Street and up Moore Lane, the meeting and decision to surrender, where O'Rahilly was killed, where the surrender was handed over, the Rotunda where Tom Clarke was stripped naked in front of a British garrison and where Tom Clarke's shop is now hidden behind a plastic piece of neon. There are very few states in the world - the Taoiseach and I have both travelled - where one does not go to some national commemoration, some ceathrú saoirse or some liberation or revolutionary quarter. Here we have a perfect example which can be saved from the developers. The Taoiseach will know that the relatives of the leaders of 1916 are campaigning on this issue so an aontaíonn an Taoiseach leis an moladh go gcuirfear ceathrú na saoirse le chéile i lár na cathrach?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As I said, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government placed a preservation order on No. 16. The area from the GPO to the Rotunda is very compact. There is an opportunity, if handled properly, to make available a multilingual explanation to people from all over the world in order that they can see the circumstances and locations where one of the first independent states was recognised in the early part of the 20th century.

Under section 14 of the National Monuments Act, the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is required for all works affecting the area covered by the preservation order. This needs to be looked at afresh. If one looks only at the preservation order on No. 16 or Nos. 14 and 17, it is very confined. The lanes are still there as is some of the original brickwork, etc., to enable a more comprehensive explanation and analysis of what went on.

I do not mean to interfere in any way with applications for planning permission which may have been granted. However, in respect of this period of our history, which will probably grow in importance as time goes on, we have an opportunity to get it right before anything happens which might impact severely on it. From that point of view, I will discuss the matter with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

There is a preservation order on No. 16 which presents us with an opportunity to handle this in a sensitive way. I say that in the context of the 1916 commemoration ceremony and all that leads to it being treated by the consultation group in a sensitive and responsible fashion.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I support what the Taoiseach and Deputy Adams said in regard to Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street. I would be very anxious to see something concrete and productive emerge from that.

I wish to ask about the 1916 centenary committee. Would the Taoiseach consider it useful if the membership was potentially broadened out or if, for example, a Northern input was facilitated, either from the Assembly or strands of opinion, to ensure the centenary is celebrated in an all-island context? As the Taoiseach said in regard to the sensitivity of the commemoration and so forth, there is a range of issues, from the Ulster Covenant to the Great War to other major events taking place over the next decade. It is important those commemorative opportunities become opportunities for fresh insights, perspectives and a deeper mutual understanding among people of different traditions on the island. Let us face it - people from a different tradition may not have the same perspective on 1916 as Members of this House. It is an opportunity for a comprehensive approach to commemoration.

I met previously with the Orange Order in regard to this and there is a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue towards the collective commemoration of different events of historical significance over the next decade which resonate back to conflict, history and so on. I am sure the Taoiseach would agree that the challenge is to do this in a way that can advance and add value to the kind of society we want to create on the island of Ireland.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is possible and it should be so. The consultation group should be broadened beyond the membership of this Dáil and Seanad. There are people with a deep and brilliant understanding of the background and environment in which these events happened. It is an opportunity for the Oireachtas to be a party to sensitive and proper commemorations in the period 2012 to 2016 and beyond. These should be carried out in a sensitive, understanding and fitting manner, appropriate to a country that has achieved over a century since that first Rising. I am favourably disposed to putting people on the consultation group and to taking into account the fact that the Ulster Unionist Council has launched a document and has a committee dealing with commemorative ceremonies as they see them. It is appropriate to link the two.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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On a point of information, if I heard the Taoiseach correctly, he said this is the area where the State was first recognised. That is not the case, this is the area in which a totally different State was proclaimed. It took a counterrevolution to create this State.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The point I am making is that the 1916 Rising began the first steps towards economic independence and political independence, which came about with Ireland becoming one of the first countries to become independent in the early part of the 20th century. We do not need to differ on the details.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Taoiseach should tell the IMF and the EU about our economic independence.