Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Minister on the document produced today. It is not too late; in fact, it is rather timely. Sometimes, if the lead-in is too long, we can miss some of the important issues. Last year we saw commemorations of the 1913 Lock-out. When I attended the events at the GPO, the general public were incensed at being left standing outside for over 45 minutes while a few dignitaries were treated to something or other inside the building. I sincerely hope that any planned reception will take place either before or after the event. The general public should not be left standing outside like goms waiting for Caesar to arrive.

The relatives of those involved with 1916 have been mentioned. There are associations, but families all over the country had relatives involved with the 1916 Rising, and I ask that the Department make every effort to advertise in local and national media to ask relatives of those who fought in 1916 to come forward and be recognised. Not everybody is linked to an association or group.

We have entered the most complex period in Irish history and there is a multiplicity of memory in our nation State. It would be wrong of us to try to feed all of those memories. The year 1916 is Ireland's and it is not owned by the Somme or anything else. I have worn uniforms on all sides and been a proud soldier in the Irish Defence Forces. I regret that I differ with my colleagues, Senators White and Bacik, on this issue. It is a day for the military and the Defence Forces, which have a proud tradition of peacekeeping throughout the world, to parade themselves. I regret to advise Senators that we do not have any tanks, but we have a couple of miserable armoured cars that will not leave anybody shaking in their boots. It is important that the military comes out on the day and celebrates its upholding of our democracy. The public in general would love to see them. I ask that those who most recently returned from United Nations peacekeeping be allowed to parade in their United Nations uniforms to celebrate the peace they have brought to certain parts of the world. Many of our soldiers and young men lost their lives while defending peace in the Lebanon, Chad and various other places around the world. We must recognise that.

I appreciate that the anniversaries of the battles at the Somme and Gallipoli are approaching. We should commemorate Gallipoli, particularly as it involved the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who were trapped on the beaches there for a time.

We can celebrate that event because it took place in 1915. However, 1916 is Ireland's year. It is the year those brave men and women stood up for our democracy and stepped forward as the founding fathers of this State. We must recognise their achievement. Moreover, I agree with colleagues that it would be anathema to invite any member of the British royal family to Ireland for our 1916 celebrations. There is no reason that a British royal should not be invited to participate in our remembrance of 1922, for example, but it would be wrong to do so in 2016.

I am delighted to hear about the Minister's plans for an education programme. I hope it works its way from national schools through to the third level institutions. On the issue of the teaching of history in schools, I agree with Senator Martin Conway that it is a vital part of our memory and our culture. Those who forget the past are most likely to revisit it. I urge that there be an extensive engagement with schools.

The programme of commemorations the Minister has outlined is ambitious and I wish her well in implementing it.