Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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647. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the context of the commemorative projects in 2016 that will reflect on the lives and deaths of 3,500 Irish soldiers who died in combat at the Somme in northern France in 1916, if the industrial-scale slaughter at the Battle of the Somme demonstrates the vital need for institutions that facilitate and strengthen peace and unity in Europe, if her planned commemorations for 1916 will account for this sad lesson of history; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43508/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Since its inception in 2012, the Decade of Centenaries has been engaged in delivering a balanced chronological commemorative programme with selected focused events in each year. There is a commitment to marking each milestone in a way that is inclusive, tolerant and respectful, and the events and activities undertaken have been aimed at fostering such an approach in conjunction with the various partners involved in these projects

The Government has recently published a programme for next year to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Somme in 1916, which it regards as an important event to be marked both in Ireland and at the Somme.

The programme includes 4 strands:

- Ceremonial;

- Historical and Educational Reflection;

- Cultural; and

- Community Participation.

It is important that each generation has that opportunity to become aware of the past and the ways in which history can shape our present and influence our future. It is my hope that the commemorative events and activities being planned for 2016 at home and in Europe will go some way to achieving this and that the range of planned activities, including exhibitions, discussions, cultural activities and youth engagement, will help new generations explore the impacts and implications of the catastrophic events at the Battle of the Somme.