asked the Minister for Defence if he will allow the Army to take part in the annual commemoration ceremony at Beal na Blath this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beal na Blath Ceremonies.
41.
It is not proposed that the Army should take part in the ceremony mentioned in the Deputy's question.
As explained in reply to previous questions—the latest being Question No. 22 on 26th May, 1965—it is the policy, in order to avoid difficulties which would arise in selecting individual anniversaries in commemorating which the State might participate, that a special day, Easter Sunday, should be set apart on which the State should celebrate the securing of Independence and honour all who took part in the struggle to achieve it. The only variation of this policy is the annual State Commemoration at Arbour Hill for those who died in 1916.
I would seriously appeal to the Minister to reconsider his decision between now and 22nd August.
That is a statement. This is Question Time, not time for a statement.
Would the Minister reconsider his decision in view of the fact that, this year, we commemorated——
This is a statement.
This year, we commemorated the memory of great men and the Army took part in that commemoration.
I cannot allow any further extension to the Deputy for a question.
I asked this question 12 months ago. I repeated it now and have received the same reply.
The Deputy will resume his seat.
This is an important matter.
I will resume my seat but I think it is a shame and a disgrace——
Next question.
How can the Minister relate his reply here today to the selective treatment which the Army gives by attending at the grave of Wolfe Tone and refusing to commemorate the first Chief of Staff of the Irish Army, General Michael Collins?
All persons who died at this period are honoured together on Easter Sunday, regardless of any rank or appointment held by any of them. That was a decision taken some years ago and I intend to adhere to it because of the difficulties arising in selecting individual anniversary ceremonies at which the Army could attend.
So now State policy is to give special treatment to someone dead for 130 years before the first Chief of Staff, General Michael Collins. Is it not simply that the Minister does not like the colour of Michael Collins?
Nothing of the kind.
The Minister should be ashamed of himself.
I knew Michael Collins——
Oh, yes and the Irish Press can now quote him for their own purposes.
I knew him and I respected him.
The Minister parted with that respect for him when he smeared his monument.
(Interruptions.)
Would the Deputy suggest we should have an individual and separate ceremony for the first Minister for Defence, Cathal Brugha?
I would have no objection.
Is that what the Deputy wants?
We have no objection to such a course.
I want all who died for this country honoured together.
The Minister and his Party denounced Collins for decades and now you use him in the Irish Press——
(Interruptions.)
He was the greatest man of them all and the Minister is not the only one jealous of him; the man in the Park is jealous of him, too.