Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators for their contributions. In particular, I thank Senator Ó Murchú for his kind comments and I thank the other Senators for their kind comments on the national famine commemorations. I was delighted to be able to work with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in order that we could hold the famine commemorations for the first time in Northern Ireland. The last time they were held in Ulster, the location was Clones, my local town. As an Ulster woman and the chair of the committee, I was pleased that it has come back to Northern Ireland and Ulster. It is very much a community event and an inclusive event. It was very respectful. I went to Newry on Saturday and I returned to Warrenpoint on Sunday for another unveiling of a plaque. While many of the people who travelled on the boats went to Newry, they had to continue the journey to Warrenpoint, where many of them got the boat to America, Australia, Canada or wherever they went. I will go to Canada at the end of October for the international famine commemorations there.There is a strong link between Ulster and Canada through the ships that travelled from Warrenpoint. I am looking forward to visiting Canada.

As I have indicated previously, I very much want the 2016 commemorations to be inclusive and community-driven. I acknowledge the important role Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will play in the commemorations and I have no doubt the harp will feature prominently. Plans are afoot in County Cavan to bring together musicians from different traditions to perform in 2016. I have always made clear that I want the commemorations to be inclusive, respectful and appropriate. I am conscious, as the person heading the State commemorations, that they belong to all the people of Ireland rather than any particular group or political party. The purpose of the commemorations is bring everyone together to reflect upon the past 100 years and look forward to a bright future.

I am encouraged by the level of interest shown in the programme. I also want to ensure the commemorations move out beyond Dublin as the large number of events taking place in Dublin could have resulted in the programme becoming Dublin-centric. I am pleased with the engagement shown by local communities through the local authorities. Some 80 local consultation meetings were held nationwide and it is encouraging to note each county is producing a plan of commemoration, all of which will feed into the national plan. We are also briefing the local authorities in Northern Ireland and have received a positive response to date. That engagement will continue. I am also pleased that we are working with the GAA and that the organisation is taking part in the State commemorations.

The school programme will be one of the many ways in which we will reach into every community. I want to get people thinking and talking. I hope the schools programme will spark discussions among families about how they or their relatives were affected by events. It is important to hear stories that bring life to history and history to life. I hope children will go home and discuss what they are doing at school and what they have discovered. As I nation, I hope we will come together to commemorate the events that led to the foundation of the State.

To respond to a point raised by Senator Cummins, children will be taught the protocol that applies to the flag and the way it should be treated and respected. In particular, the flag should not touch or be dragged along the ground as one sometimes sees unfortunately. Children will be made conscious of this protocol and the meaning of the flag will also be outlined to them.

The country has come a long way in the past 100 years. We have the maturity to examine the events of the past without being triumphalist. As Senator O'Keeffe stated, we need to reflect on the past 100 years and we should be proud of and celebrate our many achievements. The peacekeeping role of the Defence Forces, for example, is widely respected across the world.

A number of academic conferences are also planned for third level institutions next year. I have no doubt these will facilitate discussion of the events of 1916, including what may have occurred if history had taken a different course and the meaning of these events in 21st century Ireland. Through the 2016 programme, I hope we can encourage children to look back on the events of 1916, consider what life was like for children at that time and think about how different their experiences are today. It is important that they learn about our history in an informed and inclusive manner.

Senator Barrett will be pleased to note that I am launching Joe Duffy's book on the children of 1916. I acknowledge that Joe Duffy was highlighting what happened to children in 1916 long before the commemorations programme was put together.

The full details of the Irish language programme will be published in the coming weeks. It is important that the Irish language is prominent throughout the commemoration programme. The harp is a prominent symbol on all the printed material and we will ensure this symbolism is respected.

I am excited about the year of commemorations that lies ahead. Events will also take place to mark the role of women, which is very important given the significant role women played in the Rising before fading into the background. As I stated, we have passed legislation to encourage more women to become involved in politics. This will be an interesting study and it is very worthwhile and important that we do it.

We are working with many different organisations, including community organisations and the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation to which a number of Senators alluded. We are very pleased with the level of engagement with the programme. The greater the number of people involved, the better and richer will be the programme of commemorations. I thank the House for the opportunity to speak.