Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason he has not convened the All-Party Oireachtas Consultation Group on the Centenary of the 1916 Rising since 2 December 2009; if he will he do so now and include on the agenda for the day a presentation regarding the proposal to extend the national monument, 17 Moore Street, to include from 10-20 Moore Street, including the full footprint of the houses and gardens and laneways, as a national monument in view of the fact that the State now controls most of this property through the National Asset Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47284/10]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is represented on the committee established to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46966/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 51 together.

The All Party Oireachtas Consultation Group on the Centenary of the Rising, which I chair and represent the Government on, also comprises Deputy Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael), Deputy Joe Costello (Labour), Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin) and Deputy Michael Lowry (for independent members).

The Secretariat is provided by the Department of the Taoiseach.

I am aware of the interest of members to have a meeting of the Group and it will be convened as soon as progress on a sufficient range of projects has been achieved to justify renewed consultation with the Group.

It is the Government's intention that the centenary commemoration programme in the lead up to the event will include a wide range of commemorative, cultural and artistic initiatives at national, regional and local level. The Programme for Government 2007 – 2012 sets out the Government's intentions in this regard and includes plans to:

Establish the GPO as a museum of celebration of Irish progress and achievement across a broad spectrum as a landmark 1916 centenary project.

Support the creation of programmes of events in all cities and towns in Ireland.

Make available to historians and to the public, records of the Military Pensions Archive in the Department of Defence.

Advance the redevelopment of Glasnevin Cemetery.

Restore 16 Moore Street and establish therein an interpretative centre, linked to the GPO, to honour those who fought in the 1916 Rising.

Ensure a prominent cultural component to the 1916 Centenary commemoration.

Provide a fund to which community groups can apply for support for the refurbishment of existing monuments commemorating events during the period 1913-23.

Official consideration of several projects and possibilities will be concluded in the context of the preparation of the 2011 Estimates. I believe that this will create the opportunity for meaningful discussions of the scope and extent of an appropriate commemorative framework. I would be grateful to receive any proposals for presentations at the meeting that the Deputies wish to submit for consideration. I thank the Deputies for their continuing patience.