Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Defence the role the Defence Forces will play in the annual 1916 commemoration this year; the budget for the commemoration; the role that the Defence Forces has in the organisation of the 1916 centenary celebrations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14175/12]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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In 2006, a large military parade in Dublin marked the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising. Since then, a simple dignified military ceremony has taken place in front of the GPO each Easter Sunday. The ceremony starts at noon and lasts approximately 25 minutes. The President lays a wreath and the Taoiseach and the Minister for Defence also have officiating roles. The event involves participants from the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and the Defence Forces Reserve. The ceremony consists of a reading of the Proclamation by a member of the Defence Forces, the laying of a wreath by the President and a flag raising ceremony. Details of the 2012 ceremony will be published shortly in the national newspapers and the ceremony will be open to the general public.

The Department of Defence has no overall budget for the annual 1916 commemoration. The Defence Forces are not paid additional salaries or expenses for participating at State ceremonies. Expenditure by the Department of Defence normally consists of overtime and travel and subsistence expenses which amounted to approximately €3,300 in 2011 and postage costs which totalled just under €600.

It is felt that a ceremony of this nature is appropriate and constitutes a sustainable commitment in the coming years towards the centenary in 2016.

Special arrangements for the centenary anniversary will be addressed in the context of the forthcoming Decade of Centenaries. The role of the Defence Forces in the organisation of the 1916 centenary celebrations will be considered by the all-party Oireachtas consultation group, which is chaired by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan. The group has met on three occasions, the most recent meeting being on 6 March last.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, said the 1916 Rising centenary commemorations will highlight Ireland's culture, language and poetry rather than the military ceremonies of the past. The Taoiseach stated he was keen to involve all parties in the State and wished to set up an inclusive structure that will have an all-Ireland dimension. It remains unclear what role the Defence Forces, heirs to those who fought in the Rising and the War of Independence, will have in the commemoration if emphasis is to be placed on other elements. Will the Minister of State confirm whether British military personnel will be involved in the commemoration, if the Minister for Defence sees the 1916 Rising as having primacy of place in the various centennial anniversaries in the coming years and if the Defence Forces will play a central part in that?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The question I was asked is the one I am answering, namely, what happens annually. I do not wish to be rude but the Deputy might listen again to the key point in my response. I reiterate that there is an all-party group dealing with this issue. It is not only one side of the House, but all sides that will put their perspectives on the commemoration.

The Defence Forces will have a critical part to play, as they always do. As one who attends as often as I can, I can state it is an Army officer who reads the 1916 Proclamation. The President has a very important place in our Constitution in regard to the Army. He - or she, as was the case last year - is present. As one who has a relative who fought in the Old IRA, I am very proud of this ceremony and I hope to be present on the day to commemorate all those people.

As to the Deputy's reference to the British Army, the history of this country shows that this year, when the Queen of England attended in the Garden of Remembrance, in the presence of the Army, proper and due respect was shown by all sides to our history. Our past - our history - was properly and respectfully addressed on that occasion so I do not see any commemoration as being confrontational in respect of anybody else. Our Oireachtas will make the recommendations to the Minister. The ceremony will be all-inclusive in terms of our nation and its parties and it will honour and respect the great sacrifices Irish soldiers have made throughout the years in the service of our country, both here and abroad.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As one who has attended regularly at the GPO, I can state it is always a dignified and very appropriate occasion. The one that marked the 90th anniversary was most appropriate.

In recent years there have been ceremonies in other major urban centres throughout the country at which our Permanent Defence Forces and our Reserve Forces have participated. Does the Minister of State know whether there are such plans for 2012?

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Notwithstanding the role the Defence Forces will play in the upcoming commemorations, I put to the Minister of State that the best way of commemorating is to finish the job those involved set out to achieve, namely, to unite this country, respecting all traditions and cultures. If we are true and serious about commemorating those who fought in 1916, it is incumbent on all of us in this House to continue that journey and achieve those goals.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To clarity for the Minister of State, part of the question referred to the annual 1916 commemoration but part referred to the centenary element which is coming up in 2016. That was the element on which I focused. I also referred to the budget the Department of Defence would have for the centennial commemoration of 1916.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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We are at cross purposes here. Question No. 11 asked about the role of the Defence Forces in the annual 1916 commemoration which I addressed; and the budget for the commemoration, which we discussed.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I asked about the role and the Minister involved. I ask the Minister of State to read on.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It is envisioned that the framework for commemorations of the decade of centenaries relating to the period 2012 to 2022 will be developed by officials and approved by Government. Particular commemorative initiatives and arrangements for them will be brought to the all-party group. That is the key point I wish to make. There has been a significant level of engagement with various interested parties in regard to the programme, on both a North-South and an east-west basis. From an overall perspective, the Government's approach to these commemorations will seek to respect historical accuracy, promote tolerance, respect and inclusiveness, and recognise the all-island and east-west shared past nature of the decade.

One of the cornerstones will be the military service pensions archive project, the purpose of which is to make the records in question available to both the public and to historians in good time for the centenary.

To finish the job of the men of 1916 is to have peace on this island, which we have, and unity of purpose, North and South. It is not to finish the job in a military sense-----

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I never said that.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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My point is, that is not what it is, lest there be any doubt about it on either side of the House. I am glad to hear the Deputy state that. There is no room in this country for militarism. What we want is unity, North and South. We have cohesion and contact, North and South, in a very progressive way. Long may it continue the way it is going.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is important to clarify what I stated, which was that we should unite the country and make it inclusive of all traditions and cultures.