Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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As the Minister of State will be aware, The Gathering is taking place this year as Ireland seeks to attract visitors from around the world, including in particular people with family connections to Ireland. Next year is the anniversary of another important event, namely, the Battle of Clontarf. I understand the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is organising various events to commemorate this anniversary. It will provide an opportunity to focus on our past and our military victories, although that is a matter which has gone out of fashion in modern Europe.

It also allows us to remember our connection with Scandinavia. Dublin is largely a Viking settlement and the Irish gene pool bears a remarkable similarity to Iceland. Either Irish people were very good swimmers or else they went to Iceland as slaves.

In any event, Brian Boru died immediately after the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 and next year we will mark the passing of a millennium since that important event. This provides an opportunity to arrange international events and to increase co-operation with other countries. The Brian Boru project in Killaloe has submitted a request to the Central Bank that it issue a commemorative coin next year to mark the death of Brian Boru 1,000 years ago. The forthcoming millennium anniversary has energised the community of Killaloe, an old, medieval settlement which dates back to Brian Boru's time. When he was High King of Ireland Brian Boru had his capital at Kincora, a settlement at the top of the hill in Killaloe on which a Catholic church was built approximately 100 years ago. St. Flannan's Church of Ireland Cathedral, which is located at the bottom of the hill adjacent to the river, is an important archaeological site. It is a beautiful building similar to St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick and both structures were commenced around the time of Brian Boru and built in the Romanesque style, of which Ireland has many important examples.

As the Minister will be aware, the Central Bank issued a commemorative coin featuring a line from James Joyce's Ulysses, which was unfortunately misquoted. There is, therefore, a facility to issue commemorative coins. The Central Bank acts as the agent for the Minister for Finance in respect of the issue of coins. Accordingly, any commemorative or collector coins issued by the bank require prior approval from the Minister. I urge him to consider approving the request to issue a coin commemorating Kincora and the anniversary of Brian Boru's death at the Battle of Clontarf 1,000 years ago.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy McNamara for submitting this topic for discussion as it is a matter in which I have an interest.

I understand the Central Bank's numismatic advisory committee has recommended that in 2014 the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf be marked with the issue of a €20 gold proof coin. The Central Bank will shortly submit its recommendations for the 2014 collector coin programme to the Minister for Finance for approval. I expect the Minister will take a favourable view on the recommendation for a coin to mark the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf. The Central Bank's plans would involve the issue of a small gold coin with a weight of 0.5g and a likely issue limit of 10,000.

Deputies may be interested to learn that later this year the Central Bank will issue collector coins to mark the centenary of the 1913 Lock-out and the 50th anniversary of the visit of President John F. Kennedy to Ireland in 1963. Next year will also see the issue of a small gold coin with a Celtic theme that will feature the Rock of Cashel.

Recent collector coin issues by the Central Bank have been very successful, with the James Joyce coin, to which the Deputy referred, and Michael Collins coin selling out almost immediately after their launch. I am sure the Battle of Clontarf millennium coin will also be very popular. I am not sure if this will satisfy the Deputy as I am not certain whether he wants the place of birth of Brian Boru or the place of his heroic death to be commemorated.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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It is good news that Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf will be commemorated by the Government next year. I am also anxious that any celebration of the life of Brian Boru will include Killaloe and Kincora where he was based. This could be done in various ways, one of which is by issuing a commemorative coin. I am pleased the Minister for Finance will consider a recommendation to this effect from the Central Bank and I hope he accedes to it. The contribution to Irish history of Kincora and Killaloe could be acknowledged in other ways. During a period when there was much more money floating around, the Cabinet also floated around, holding nine meetings outside Dublin between 2000 and 2006. A number of meetings were also held in Farmleigh during the previous Irish Presidency in 2004. While I accept the decision of the Cabinet on financial grounds to confine its sittings to Dublin, as the economy improves, I ask that it consider holding a meeting in Killaloe in 2014 to commemorate its unique contribution to Irish history as the base and home of Brian Boru and site of St. Flannan's Cathedral, with which he was closely connected.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the Deputy's interest in promoting Killaloe where Brian Boru was born. As a part of his constituency, it is only natural that he would seek to do so. Killaloe is Brian Boru's place of birth and Clontarf is the location where he met his heroic death on Good Friday 1014 while praying for Ireland in his tent. Another place near my constituency where Brian Boru could also be commemorated comes to mind. I wonder if Deputies know where the ashes of Brian Boru reside.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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In Cashel.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy from Tipperary knows well, the ashes of Brian Boru rest in the ancient city of Armagh. I hope that when we commemorate and celebrate Brian Boru's life, we will include in the reckoning Killaloe, Clontarf, Armagh and other places along the way. To address the core of the Deputy's question, a coin will be issued to commemorate Brian Boru's death 1,000 years ago.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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May I make a brief point?

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I do not believe Brian Boru ever got as far as Kerry because if he did, he would never have got out of it. I jest.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Brian Boru went to school on Inishfallen Island on the lakes of Killarney. He used to pass my door on his way to and from school.