Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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77. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for further centenary commemorations over the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39728/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Government's approach to the remembrance of the significant historical events and themes of the period from 1919 to 1923 will continue to be informed by the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations, chaired by Dr Maurice Manning. I would like to acknowledge the very significant work completed by the Advisory Group over the past year in formulating its guidance to Government. I am now considering the recommendations of the Group and I expect to bring a Memorandum for consideration by my Government colleagues shortly. I am also convening a meeting of the All-Party Group on Commemorations on Thursday to discuss the approach to the coming period.

I am of the view that it will be very important for the commemorative programme over the remainder of the Decade to adopt a broad focus, which acknowledges both the military activity as well as the many other dimensions that are interwoven with conflict, including its political, social and cultural impacts. The State's approach will continue to encourage reflection about the multiple identities, traditions and perspectives that are part of the overall Irish historical experience. We will ensure that this very complex period in our history is remembered appropriately, proportionally and with sensitivity. To this end, I envisage that formal State ceremonial commemorations will be focused on the significant points on the historical timeline of the period. Historical exploration, cultural engagement, community participation and artistic endeavours, will have a very important contribution in supporting the national conversation about these events and the local context.

One of the cornerstones of the State's approach to commemorations over the coming years will be to further reconciliation on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain; to take account of sensitivities across communities in Northern Ireland; and to continue to recognise that very different perspectives persist on many of the events that took place.

I envisage that local authorities, our national cultural institutions, institutions of learning, and custodians of records, together with artists and creative communities, will continue to have a leading role in encouraging and supporting meaningful, respectful and authentic engagement over the remainder of the Decade.