Averil Power (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister. As President Higgins pointed out earlier this year, the contribution of women to Irish history has not been adequately recognised by the State. One area in which this is very evident is the lack of commemorative public works of art to acknowledge the role women played in securing our independence and building the modern Irish State. In fact, of 34 statues of people in Dublin city, only four are of women and there are just a handful of sculptures scattered throughout the city. These commemorative structures and the fact that women are so vastly under-represented among them reinforce the bias towards men and their narratives in our history.

In the run-up to the 1916 centenary celebrations it is important that we reflect fairly on Irish history. It presents us with an opportunity re-evaluate the significant roles played by various people, male and female, who have not been given sufficient recognition to date.

This gives an opportunity to redress the balance in our public works of art towards women and acknowledge the role played by women in bringing about the Ireland of today. I welcome the recent naming of the new bridge over the Liffey after Rosie Hackett but there is still a long way to go.

I understand the Government is planning a number of commemorative projects for the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. How were these projects selected? Was there a public call for the inclusion of certain works of art? Do any of the projects selected recognise the contribution of women to that period in our history? I know the Minister has received a proposal from Stuart Dunne relating to a sculpture of Molly O'Reilly. She was a young girl when she raised the flag of the Irish Republic and the proposed sculpture is to be a life-size statue depicting her in the act of doing so. This is symbolic of the role played by women throughout the period. I have written to the Minister on a number of occasions on this matter and I asked my colleague, Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl, to table a parliamentary question on the issue in the Dáil. The reply he received said the Minister could not commission additional sculptures as part of the centenary commemorations because he had already completed the selection of artworks. Will the Minister reconsider his position on this? The sculpture of Molly O'Reilly is a worthwhile piece of art and most of the work on it is already done. It would be nice to see it displayed in Dublin. How many of the projects chosen by the Minister recognise the contribution of women to Irish independence?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Power for raising this topic. Before considering the commemorations of the 1916 Easter Rising I was conscious the contribution of women to the movement for Irish independence had not been given appropriate official recognition. I welcome the opportunity to address this in the commemorative arrangements for the decade of centenaries. In partnership with the Women's History Association of Ireland a series of special commemorative events was prepared to mark the centenary of the founding of Cumann na mBan. I am very pleased that this partnership continues and that the role and achievements of women will be acknowledged in the coming years. I am also pleased to support a series of events relating to the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, including a formal commemoration led by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and a commemorative conference of the Women's History Association of Ireland held at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks. I also note the recent official opening of the Rosie Hackett Bridge in the centre of Dublin. The forthcoming centenary of the landing of arms at Howth and Kilcoole will be an opportunity to remember the contribution of members of Cumann na mBan, including Molly O'Reilly. I understand Ms O'Reilly stored imported arms at her home. I am also conscious of the sacrifices made by women seeking suffrage and by those supporting the many Irishmen wounded in the First World War.

The Senator will appreciate that capital resources available for commemorative initiatives have been committed to key projects so that they will be completed in time for the commemorations of the Easter Rising. These priority projects were identified in my statement on the budget in the House on 16 October 2013 and in the statement of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 13 May 2014. In general, these projects relate to the development of visitor facilities at locations of significance to the Easter Rising and to the independence movement. Responsibility for the promotion of the arts, including sculpture and visual art, has been largely devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts and it is a statutory independent body. It is funded by my Department and is independent in its day-to-day operations. I have no role in its funding decisions. The Arts Council engages with local authorities in supporting public art installations and I understand that, as memorials located in public spaces, sculptures cannot be considered solely on artistic merit. Issues relating to location and context are essential features of any proposal brought forward for consideration. I would be pleased to see the sculpture mentioned by Senator Power brought to completion if it were considered appropriate for inclusion in a current or future project.

I am glad to have had this opportunity to address the House and to underline the importance of commemorating the hugely significant role played by women in our political, social and cultural history.

Averil Power (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response and welcome the fact that a number of events are taking place this year and in coming years to commemorate the work of women and organisations such as Cumann na mBan. It is important that there be more balance in public works of art. It is wrong that people walking around Dublin will see 30 statues of men and only four of women. I could give the Minister a list of women who were involved in the labour movement. I do not refer only to Countess Markievicz, who has two statues in Dublin city. I refer to the many other women who were involved in the Irish Citizen Army, the struggle for independence, the campaign for universal suffrage and numerous other issues who have not been acknowledged. There is a deficit and I had hoped we could use the opportunity presented by the centenary commemorations to redress this.

The Minister referred to a list of commemorative projects that was laid before the House. I do not know what those projects are as I did not have a chance to see the list before attending the Chamber today. I am somewhat unclear as to whether these projects will specifically commemorate the role of women and redress the imbalance that has been outlined. I ask the Minister to revisit this matter and see the statue proposed by Stuart Dunne, as much work has been completed on it and it only requires a place to be displayed in Dublin.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I agree that the role of women in the Easter Rising and the suffrage movement must be properly recognised. Anna Parnell of the Land League has been forgotten and was buried under a different name in England. The movement known as Inghinidhe na hÉireann, which included Maud Gonne, led to the founding of Cumann na mBan as a response to the founding of the Irish Volunteers, which did not include women. Jennie Wyse Power was involved in founding Cumann na mBan but she is now unknown. She was an extraordinary woman, and the Proclamation of the Irish Republic was signed in her shop. She was involved in two previous movements also but has been airbrushed from history. Agnes O'Farrelly, a professor, chaired the first meeting of Cumann na mBan and is also worthy of further consideration. Elizabeth O'Farrell, a nurse, attended the GPO with the Irish Citizen Army and played a critical role in the surrender. She risked her life as she walked to the barricade on Moore Street, approaching the British forces to tell them the provisional government had decided to surrender. She then conveyed the message around the city. There were some extraordinary women of that period, including Molly Childers and Mary Spring Rice, of whom many people do not know.

I was delighted to collaborate with the Women's History Association of Ireland and Dr. Mary McAuliffe, among others, to highlight the critical role played by Cumann na mBan and those women who founded it in April 1914 in Wynn's Hotel. There is now a plaque at Wynn's Hotel recognising the foundation of Cumann na mBan. I hope the role of women will be recognised during the commemorations. Around 2,000 people took part in the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, including members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, IRB, the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army and Cumann na mBan. Of the 2,000 who took part, 200 were women, and they did most of the courier work, along with very important medical back-up work. The role of these women was critical but they were not even recognised in some statements made afterwards by their comrades. It was as if their role was not important, which it was. They also played important roles in the War of Independence and the Civil War, in which they were very influential.

It is critical during this decade of cententary commemorations that the role of women is given fair recognition. As long as I have responsibility for the decade of commemorations, I will highlight that fact. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The major projects will include the GPO and there is a sculpture space there and the money has been committed. I would hope the women who were in the GPO will be represented at the place of sculpture. There is also Richmond Barracks where men and women were taken to before being taken to Kilmainham, and there is Kilmainham Jail itself. I hope they will all be recognised and represented there. The final council of war was held at No. 16 Moore Street. The critical role played by nurse Elizabeth Farrell will have to be recognised. They would be the main centres. There is also Teach an Phiarsaigh in Connemara and the house of Seán Mac Diarmada.

Wherever women had a role that will be recognised in the decade of commemorations. I am sure the Senator will be keeping a watchful eye on it, but I assure her it will be done.