Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Colm Burke for raising this important issue in such a sensitive manner. His approach certainly reflects the type of sensitive approach that the Minister, Deputy Madigan, and her Department would take. The Minister is sorry she could not be here. This is an issue in respect of which she would like to engage with the Senator and this House. However, she cannot be present due to prior commitments.

As the person with responsibility for leading the Government's decade of centenaries programme, the Minister's priority is to ensure that the complex historical events that took place, starting in 1918, on the road to the foundation of the State are remembered in an inclusive, appropriate, respectful and sensitive manner. As the Senator stated, this has to be approached in a sensitive manner. In the context of all the events held to date, that is what the Department has been trying to do under the guidance of and in co-operation with the Minister.

The Government will continue to be supported in its approach by the guidance of the expert advisory group on commemorations, chaired by the former Senator, Dr. Maurice Manning, and by the all-party consultation committee on commemorations, once established. In October of last year, the advisory group published its second statement of principles. This statement sets out a powerful structure of guiding principles which will support the State and other interested parties involved in delivering authentic, citizen focused and appropriate commemorations at national and local level during the second half of the decade of centenaries and which will respect all the sensitivities around that.

This year, the State centenary programme focuses on four broad thematic strands: the ending of the First World War; the enactment of the Representation of the People Act 1918, the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 and the significant role of women in the events of that year; the rise of radical Irish nationalism and the consolidation of Ulster unionism; and the death of John Redmond and the decline and legacy of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

The First World War was a defining event of the early 20th century and a catalyst for immense change in the political, economic, social, cultural life of communities across Ireland 100 years ago. The decade of centenaries has provided a new momentum in remembering and exploring the complicated narratives surrounding Ireland’s participation in the First World War. For years, the experiences of the many Irish-born men and women who served and died were largely hidden and ignored and yet they had a profound impact on the island of Ireland and would, almost certainly, have affected every community in the country. This year, the Government will mark the signing of the Armistice that brought four years of fighting in the First World War to an end with a special ceremony to commemorate all of the Irish-born casualties of the First World War. Last week, the Minister announced that a ceremony will take place in Dún Laoghaire on 10 October in remembrance of all of those who perished following the sinking of the RMS Leinster. This will be an inclusive, respectful and fitting commemoration and she would like to thank Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the family members of those affected by this tragedy and the many other stakeholders who are working with her Department.

On 6 February, the Minister launched the State centenary programme to mark the introduction of voting rights for women - a significant milestone on a long and difficult journey towards franchising men and women equally and a first step towards realising the full inclusion of Irish women in public life. An exciting and innovative pop-up women's museum, curated by the historian, Ms Sinéad McCoole, and commemorating women in politics and political life from 1918 to 2018, will be showcased in the Coach House in Dublin Castle from November of this year until January 2019. It will then travel to venues around the country.

In March, the State commemorated the centenary of the death of John Redmond and paid tribute to his contribution, which spanned a parliamentary career of over 37 years, to the emerging Irish State. This programme comprised a rich and diverse range of ceremonial, cultural, historical and educational activities in Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Athlone. One of the highlights was a special symposium which took place in the National Gallery on 6 March and which involved a partnership between the NUI, RIA, the school of history at UCD and the Department. A ceremony also took place in Wexford on 15 April, attended by the President of Ireland, to commemorate the death of John Redmond. This event, which was supported by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, was postponed from 4 March due to the adverse weather conditions at that time.

Politically, 1918 was a year of profound transformation. The anti-conscription campaign of 1918 and the associated general strike were significant milestones in this movement, which culminated in Sinn Féin's landslide victory in the general election of 14 December 1918 in the South and the consolidation of the unionist vote in the North. On 22 April, a special concert takes place in Liberty Hall, hosted by SIPTU and supported by the Department, to mark the centenary of the 1918 general strike.

Early next year, the State will mark the centenary of the convening of the First Dáil in the Mansion House on 21 January 1919. The Minister welcomes also the programme of events the Houses of the Oireachtas are developing to mark this momentous occasion.

The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will continue to positively engage with, and to support, the local authorities, national cultural institutions, academic institutions, the artistic community and other stakeholders to deliver appropriate commemorative initiatives under each of these thematic strands.

The Minister would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the critical importance of local authorities in supporting an inclusive approach to commemorations that is sensitive to the local historical context and experience. She believes that a collaborative approach to the remembrance of this complex period in our history between the State, local authority network and local organisations and commemorative committees is very important. The Minister was pleased to approve a funding allocation of €5,000 in 2018 for each local authority. This funding will support local authorities in developing initiatives to encourage people to explore the political, historical, social and cultural context of 1918 and the significant aspects of life in Ireland that were shaped by and also directed Ireland's participation in the First World War.

The Minister's predecessor, current Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, launched a public consultation process in October of last year, with the objective of stimulating a public conversation and a rich diversity of perspectives and ideas around how the significant historical events between 1918 and 1923 might be appropriately remembered. The response his been extremely encouraging, with 72 submissions, 20 of which were made by local authorities, received. These submissions have been helpful to the expert advisory group on commemorations as the group considers the advice that it will provide to Government. The guidance of the advisory group will inform the State's approach to the remembrance of the seminal moments on our journey towards self-determination and independence from 2019 to 2023.

I hope that gives Senator Colm Burke an update on proceedings and thank him for raising this issue with us here today.