Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the actions his Department will take to promote the celebration of the centenary of the 1916 Rising throughout the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15260/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As we know, the centenary of the 1916 Rising is the most important commemorative event of this generation and should be celebrated in an appropriate fashion. The celebrations belong to the people and not to any organisation or group. Will the Minister outline the nature of the international events that have been planned to celebrate the international significance of the 1916 Rising?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Government launched the Ireland 2016 commemorative programme on 31 March. The programme features seven strands, including a global and diaspora programme. Through its embassy and consulate network, my Department has been engaging, and will continue to engage, with the Irish diaspora, community groups and our international partners throughout the world to plan and support events commemorating the centenary of the Rising. The programme provides an opportunity to reflect on the national and international dimensions of the Rising, explore the influence of the diaspora on the Rising and celebrate our continued close ties with Irish communities abroad and with our international friends and partners.

The global programme fund will be available to ensure a series of events in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and further afield. The fund is of the order of €500,000. A wide range of events, including film screenings, artistic and cultural programmes, seminars and community events are already included in the Ireland 2016 global programme and many more are planned.

Ireland 2016 is an opportunity to present Ireland to the world and celebrate our achievements over the past century, including our people, our long-standing programme of humanitarian assistance, our peacekeeping record, ongoing efforts to support peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland as well as the progress that has been made on Ireland's economic recovery.

Together with Culture Ireland, my Department and its missions overseas will work to highlight the best of Irish arts worldwide throughout 2016 in a programme that focuses on contemporary artists and influences while reflecting on Ireland's cultural journey over the past 100 years.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he ensure the reach of the Department's work with the diaspora is as great as possible to ensure that many of the Irish people who may not attend events organised by the embassy or other Irish representative organisations can participate? Will the Minister outline if it has yet been decided whether there will be representation by foreign states at our State commemoration events?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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It is unlikely there will be representatives of foreign states at our national events in Dublin. A wide range of international events from Paris to Brasilia and from Boston to Buenos Aires are being planned. Deputy Smith spoke of the regions. In the United States, where five of the seven signatories of the Proclamation spent periods of time, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, in partnership with the Irish Embassy, will host a flagship three week festival of Irish arts and culture. In France the first International Beckett Paris Festival will take place in 2016. A number of academic events are taking place next year in South America, including an exhibition on Roger Casement in Brasilia and an international conference on 1916 in Argentina in association with the University of El Salvador and the Irish Argentine community.

The Irish language also features in the global programme. Glór na nGael and the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston will hold a conference in 2016 bringing together Irish language groups from throughout the United States. Many of these events have been agreed upon while others are in the course of preparation. They will ensure that the events of 1916 and the centenary will be commemorated worldwide.