Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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6. To ask the Minister for Defence in recognition of the substantial number of Irish men and women who participated in the Great War, if the current Irish Defence Forces will be participating in commemorative events; if so, if he will outline such events particularly in the context of the forthcoming centenary of the war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25786/14]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to the Irish men who died in the Great War. Will the Irish Defence Forces be participating in commemorative events and, if so, will the Minister outline those events?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The development of the commemorative programme for the centenary period, to include the First World War, is being co-ordinated on behalf of the Government by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. I understand that arrangements to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War are at an advanced stage and officials from the Department of Defence are liaising closely with colleagues in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in supporting commemorative events in Ireland and abroad.

In common with the many nations who share the history of the First World War, it is appropriate that we acknowledge the service and loss of Irish soldiers in that conflict. This was reflected in the significant support that the Defence Forces provided in Messines in December 2013 when the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister laid wreaths in remembrance of the Irish who lost their lives in the First World War. The Defence Forces have been active in acknowledging service and loss for many years. They already play a central role in the annual commemorations at the National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge and in the National Day of Commemoration ceremony in Kilmainham and will do so again this year, in July.

Furthermore, on 31 July next, a Cross of Sacrifice will be unveiled in Glasnevin Cemetery which will be dedicated to the Irish soldiers who died in the First World War. The Defence Forces will provide significant ceremonial and logistical support for this event. Members of the Defence Forces will also attend First World War commemorations being held across Europe, including the Somme ceremony in July and centenary commemorations marking the start of the war in early August. In addition to the support and representation provided at national and international commemorations to mark the First World War, requests for Defence Forces participation in events organised by local authorities and community groups are also received and, where appropriate, representation is provided.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the involvement of the Defence Forces in the commemoration of the First World War as we approach the centenary on 28 July. I acknowledge the sacrifice of 754 men from Galway and 720 men from Mayo who died in that conflict. It is only in recent years that there has been an attempt to remember the sacrifice that was made and the different reasons people fought, including for the rights of small nations following the invasion in Belgium. The Minister mentioned the peace park in Messines and I was delighted to be able to visit it a number of years ago. There is also a nice exhibition in Galway City Museum. It is a poignant tribute to those who died and fought in the war.

The Minister mentioned the events planned and I have looked at a number of the websites, including the decade of centenaries website and the websites of the Department of Defence and the Irish Defence Forces. I am not saying there is nothing on the Defence Forces website, but it is hard to find it. There should be some acknowledgement of the events. Also, on the decade of centenaries website, the First World War section is blank. The home page provides a list of what has happened over the last number of months but little information on what is planned. The Minister might be able to ask his Department and the other Department to examine that.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I will bring the question of how information is posted on the website to my Department's attention, particularly as regards the matter raised by the Deputy, and see whether anything can be done. Like him, I recognise the great sacrifices made by a significant number of people across our small country during wartime. I assure him that the Department of Defence will assist in any commemoration with which it is asked to be involved, and not only in Ireland, as seen earlier this year alongside the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister.