Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

624. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the plans for the 1916 commemoration celebrations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6608/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The objective of the Ireland 2016initiative, which I am leading and which was formally launched on 12November 2014, is to develop, coordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember all of those who fought or died in the 1916 Easter Rising, and to recognise all of the people whose lives were touched by the events of 1916. It will also reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our future, based around the themes set out in the Government's framework plan. I am committed, together with my Government colleagues, to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary in 2016 will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful.

A dedicated 2016 Project Office has been established in my Department and is currently engaged in an extensive consultation process across the Government, State agency and community sectors in order to progress the development of a rich programme for 2016, details of which will be published in the coming weeks.

In order to facilitate engagement with local communities and people of all ages nationwide, I have met with the County and Cities Management Association and have requested each local authority CEO to lead on the development of local-level plans for Ireland 2016in their individual counties during 2015. Dedicated Ireland 2016co-ordinators and steering groups have been put in place in each local authority to help to shape and drive the relevant county programmes. I recently met with Cathaoirligh and Mayors from all counties and cities, together with the Ireland 2016co-ordinators, to kick start this process. A series of public meetings will now be undertaken in each county, at which members of the public can come together to hear about Ireland 2016, meet those involved in their community, and to explore and learn about how they can get involved. I have allocated funding of €1 million to local authorities in 2015 to support this overall process.

In addition, since the launch of the Ireland 2016initiative, I have convened two meetings of the All-Party Oireachtas Group on Commemorations, of which I am Chair. The Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations, which is chaired by Dr Maurice Manning, has also met on two occasions since that date. The first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the 1916 Commemorations, which is chaired by An Taoiseach, took place on 3February 2015 and meets for the second time today, 10 March.

Meetings have also taken place with other key Departments, agencies, local authorities and interested parties. My Department's 2016 Project Office is engaging with the National Cultural Institutions, the Arts Council, Culture Ireland and the Heritage Council to ensure that a comprehensive and diverse cultural programme is developed. Meetings and a dedicated workshop have also been held with a wide range of Irish language groups in order to develop an Irish language programme. My Department has been working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to develop an appropriate programme involving the Irish Diaspora and with the Department of Education and Skills to ensure the involvement of primary and post-primary schools and the third-level education sector. My Department has also been engaging with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure that the views of children are taken on board and that they have a meaningful contribution to make.

The relatives of those who fought and those who died during the Rising will play a key role in the Ireland 2016programme and I am actively engaging with them to ensure that will have a central involvement in a number of key State events and that their views on the overall programme are considered. My officials and I have met with a number of relatives, including representatives of relatives’ groups and individual relatives, to highlight the important role that they will have in the plans to commemorate the centenary of the events of Easter 1916.

My Department is also working closely with the Department of An Taoiseach and the Department of Defence to ensure that a full programme of State commemorative events is developed, which is respectful to all those were affected by the events of the Rising.

In addition to this, my Department continues to engage with members of the public on their ideas for 2016. Over one hundred proposals have been received in the 2016 Project Office to date from members of the public and interested parties - via email, postal submissions and through the project website, - and I very much appreciate and welcome all ideas and submissions received.

I look forward to continuing engagement with all stakeholders and members of the public as the Ireland 2016initiative develops.