asked the Minister for Defence if he will permit the National Army to pay honour to the founder and first Commander-in-Chief of the Army, General Michael Collins, at the annual commemoration ceremony at Béal-na-Bláth on 23rd August, 1959.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Collins Commemoration Ceremony.
7.
As I stated in An Dáil on 30th October, 1957, in order to avoid the difficulties involved in selecting individual anniversaries in commemorating which the State might participate, a special day, Easter Sunday, has been set apart on which the State celebrates the securing of independence and honours all who took part in the struggle to achieve it. This is, of course, apart from the annual State commemoration at Arbour Hill for those who died in 1916.
I am still of opinion that that arrangement is the appropriate one and accordingly it is not proposed that the Army should officially participate in the ceremony referred to in the Deputy's question.
Would the Minister state whether the Army takes any part in the Wolfe Tone ceremonies?
That is another matter surely.
I would not think so.
The Army takes part in a special celebration at the Wolfe Tone grave.
The commemoration at Béal-na-Bláth would not be considered to be in the same line, I suppose, as the one at Bodenstown?
Obviously it is completely different.
Put that on record. They will unite the people of Ireland.