Dáil debates

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Commemorative Events

11:45 am

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the next meeting of the all-party consultation group on commemorations will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16749/19]

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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As chair of the all-party consultation group on commemorations, I have held two meetings of the reconstituted group since last October. The group is one of three convened by the Government to focus on the decade of centenaries initiative and any or all related programming, the other two groups being the senior officials group on commemorations and the expert advisory group on centenary commemorations. The expert advisory group and the all-party group are consultation groups and it remains the exclusive responsibility of the Government to prepare and deliver an appropriate commemorative programme for the remainder of the decade of centenaries.

The development of this programme is currently in train and is based on a four-strand approach comprising a State ceremonial strand, an historical strand; a community strand and a creative imagination strand. Representation on the all-party group includes members of the main parties and groupings in the Oireachtas, as well as the Alliance Party and the SDLP in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Ulster Unionist Party and Democratic Unionist Party were invited to nominate members to the group but have not done so to date.

The group most recently met last Wednesday. The meeting, which I chaired, was well attended with a high degree of engagement by the members and this gave rise to a number of useful contributions that will help to inform our discussions at future meetings of the group and, ultimately, the development of the commemorative programme for the coming years. It is my intention that the all-party group will meet regularly over the remainder of the decade of centenaries initiative out to 2023.

The work of the group is supplementary to other work ongoing in regard to the commemorative programme, including the key role of local authorities in supporting engagement and facilitation in local communities and developing appropriate commemorative initiatives as part of the decade of centenaries. In that context, I recently approved a funding allocation of €10,000 for each local authority under the decade of centenaries programme.

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the report of the expert advisory group which carefully considered the themes and made recommendations on legacy initiatives. It outlined a significant legacy initiative. I am trying to establish the Minister's level of ambition for such initiatives. For example, the group recommended a virtual record treasury. Are there other such projects which the Minister expects will come forward? What is her level of ambition in that regard? Will the advisory group have an input on the matter? Will there be an opportunity for public consultation across the country? There was a great deal of interest in the 2016 commemorations and there is a great deal of interest in the commemorations proposed for the remainder of the decade of centenaries.

11:55 am

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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12 o’clock

The legacy of the decade of centenaries will be really important. If we think back to 1916 and the 2016 celebrations, the legacy of that was crucial to the success of the second half of this decade. We are all aware of the challenges and sensitivities involved over the next number of years, especially for an appropriate commemoration of the struggle for Independence, the foundation of the State, the Civil War and the partition of the island, as well as the foundation of Northern Ireland. I was very encouraged by our last meeting. We are taking into account the expert advisory group's recommendations. We are not necessarily tied to that but it is a very good guide. The local authorities, with the €10,000 that each has, will be able to do their own individual commemorations. There was one for Soloheadbeg and another is coming up in May. Various different local authorities will be able to use their own imagination and creativity.

Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.