Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made on marketing the decade of commemorations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41804/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The development of the commemorative programme for the Decade of Centenaries has been following two priority considerations. First, it has sought to reflect the timeline of historic events that commenced in April 1912 with the introduction to parliament at Westminster of the third Home Rule Bill. The campaign on this Bill, and particularly the Unionist response in the expectation that it would be enacted, is of fundamental significance to many of the events that followed and particularly to the outcome at the end of the decade. It is intended to continue to reflect the Home Rule debate in the coming year, including the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Irish Volunteers, along with the economic and social history reflected in the Dublin Lockout. Second, alongside the current commemorative activity, the development of the commemorative programme for the coming years has been oriented towards consultation with interested parties and the development of links with official, institutional and community partners with a view to co-operative initiatives and complementary events. A website is under development that will from the outset provide notice of forthcoming events and occasional reports on the continuing programme. This site will develop as a space to feature information of relevant commemorative activities at home and abroad. It will be of particular value to diaspora communities interested in the commemorative arrangements and especially those intending to arrange travel to Ireland.

The developed public awareness of the Decade of Centenaries programme will also be assisted by the preparation of special materials and features by print and broadcast media. Special supplements to newspapers and broadcasts of feature material on radio and television have been arranged to complement the general reportage of commemorations. I very much appreciate the interest of media organisations to consult on their planning of such special commemorative material to coincide with the anniversaries of key historic events. In the coming years, the Decade of Centenaries programme will provide a unique platform for the promotion of Ireland abroad and also provide special opportunities to attract inward tourism. All members of the Government will be supporting the programme with a view to achieving its full potential. I believe strongly that the history of the revolutionary period is the shared heritage of all of us. I will be very grateful to receive any views or suggestions that Deputies may wish to send me in relation to the commemorative programme content and development.