Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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106. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to commemorate the speech by John Redmond at Woodenbridge, County Wicklow, the centenary of which occurs on 20 September 2014; if he will liaise with Wicklow County Council and the Woodenbridge Village Development Association in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18155/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to have brought forward a number of initiatives to commemorate John Redmond and the Irish Parliamentary Party, beginning in 2012 with commemorative events marking the centenary of the introduction of the Third Home Rule Bill to Westminster. Each stage in the progress of this historic Bill has been marked with commemorative lectures, events and exhibitions, including a joint exhibition brought forward by the Northern Ireland Office and hosted in the Westminster parliament, the Oireachtas and at the National Library of Ireland last year. I am working on proposals to mark the passing and suspension of the Home Rule Act in September 2014 and Redmond's speech at Woodenbridge that followed immediately thereafter. Reportage and analysis of these events will be carried in the Century Ireland, the online platform of contemporary news brought forward in co-operation with Boston College and RTE.

I am particularly keen that commemorative arrangements in the Centenary programme would be developed in partnership with local communities and representatives. I would be very pleased to work with Wicklow County Council and the Woodenbridge Development Association on the development of an appropriate commemoration. I have asked officials of my Department to make contact with the Deputy directly in this regard.