asked the Taoiseach if he is in a position to say what arrangements will be made to commemorate next year the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fiftieth Anniversary of 1916 Rising.
1.
It is intended that ceremonies and celebrations will be arranged in 1966, in Dublin and at a number of other centres, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
To assist in the consideration of the form of these ceremonies and celebrations, I have invited a number of persons, who were associated with the events of that time, to serve on an informal committee, which has already held three meetings under my chairmanship.
It is hoped to have the commemorative arrangements settled in outline during the next few weeks, when I will communicate them to the Deputy, and to Deputy Corish, and make a public announcement.
I take it the Taoiseach is aware of the desirability of having this commemoration on a national scale. Will he ensure that all political, as well as other points of view, are represented on any committee that makes the arrangements?
Yes. Of course, the final arrangements will be made by the Government. The committee of persons whom I have been consulting in this matter is an informal committee, helping to advise upon the form of the ceremonies and celebrations. When the outline arrangements are completed, I shall communicate with the Deputy, as I have said, and certainly any views which the Deputy may wish to submit will be taken fully into account.
But there will be no formal consultative all-Party group? The Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party will be merely told of the form the celebrations will take?
This will take place nearly a whole year before the celebrations so that there will be plenty of time to consider any views put forward.
The Taoiseach appreciates how important it is to have it a national or all-Party affair?
I think that is understood.
I heard an announcement during the election and quite frankly it was not possible for me to get all the names but from the list that was announced on the radio it seemed somewhat unrepresentative.
What happened was that I invited a number of people to come together and asked them to suggest other people who, in their own knowledge, would be helpful and likely to be interested. The present committee is as a result very much larger than when it was first instituted.
Everybody wants this to be successful and that is the reason for the anxiety.