Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In this decade of commemorations it is important that we recognise all those events which have contributed to the formation of the Ireland we know today and 21 January 1919 certainly was a pivotal day in modern Irish history. I thank Senator Swanick for his work on this Bill. We in the Fine Gael group will not oppose the passage of the Bill through this House.

The first meeting of Dáil Éireann took place not far from here, as others have said, in the Round Room of the Mansion House. The Members of that Dáil had been elected in the 1918 Westminster elections. The area which now forms the Roscommon-Galway constituency had representation of some note in Count Plunkett, Harry Boland and Liam Mellows, each of whom played an important role in our quest for independence. Those Members, as democratically elected representatives, asserted an exclusive right to legislate for the country. As we approach the centenary of this important event, it is fitting that we seek to recognise the date of 21 January as a Declaration of Independence Day.

It is my belief that the centenary of the first sitting of the Dáil in approximately 18 months' time must form the cornerstone of the second half of the decade of commemorations. I strongly commend the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on the great successes of those commemorations which have taken place so far. I am well aware of the energies she has invested in making those events a great success and of the leadership which she has shown. I know the Minister will continue to adopt the inclusive, open and consultative approach that has worked so well to date. The success of the Ireland 2016 programme is a key example of how we should mark those events of great significance in our past.That the 2016 programme saw more than 3,500 events take place throughout the country and more than 1,200 events abroad shows that it was successful in taking our history to a whole new audience and a new generation of young Irish people in a way that was both interesting and engaging.

The decade of centenaries represents 100 years since what was arguably one of the most eventful periods in the history of our nation, and key to our marking of the centenary of 21 January 1919 must be the stories of those Members of the First Dáil. Many of them made very real sacrifices to take their seats on 21 January 1919 and it is only right that those sacrifices are acknowledged.

Those stories of the personal struggles and sacrifices help to give us a greater understanding of what the campaign for Irish freedom meant to those people. It is arguable that it is those personal stories which help to bring the events themselves to life for modern generations. The series of commemorations which have taken place to date have been very successful in telling those stories and I encourage the Minister to ensure that is a key focus for the events to come. We need to tell the stories of people like Count Plunkett, Harry Boland and Liam Mellows.

The fact that this Bill does not propose the date to be made a public holiday is positive in the sense that it means the economic impact of this designation will be minimal and will allow us as a country to commemorate the sitting of the First Dáil properly. It will pave the way for schools, public bodies and community groups to mark this event in an appropriate way. Fine Gael Senators are happy to support the passage of this Bill through the House to ensure the anniversary of 21 January 1919 will be afforded the recognition it deserves into the future. It is the lessons of the past that must guide us into the future.