asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the recent unanimous request from Cork County Council that special ceremonies be held to mark the 50th anniversary of the taking over of Dublin Castle from the British Government, he will state the reasons why this request was not acceded to.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Castle Anniversary.
23.
The request referred to was received in my Department on the 17th ultimo which was the day after the fiftieth anniversary of the event mentioned by the Deputy. Apart, therefore, from any other considerations, it would simply not have been possible to accede to the request.
I am writing fully to Cork County Council today regarding the matter and I am sending to the Deputy, for his information, a copy of my letter to the council.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that every Irishman and woman could be proud to commemorate the taking over of Dublin Castle and the hoisting of the Irish flag on that building for the first time in 800 years? When a body like the Cork County Council, comprising 46 members, unanimously agree to request the Minister for Defence to have this commemoration service there, surely he would see fit to allow the Army to be present and to be seen with pride by every Irishman?
The Taoiseach did state in the Dáil on a number of occasions that he was prepared to facilitate the setting up of an all-party committee to see how best all those who died in the Civil War could be commemorated.
That does not arise at all.
The event of which the Deputy speaks is one of those the commemoration of which would be quite controversial having regard to the period involved, and certainly the Deputy would know more about that than I would.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary why the young men in Fianna Fáil cannot be big enough to forgive and forget the past and give due recognition to one of our greatest Irishmen? Is it not due to spite and vindictiveness on the part of Fianna Fáil?
May I say, with great respect, that that reflects the Deputy's own state of mind?
It does not. It reflects the Parliamentary Secretary's state of mind and that of the Government.
I have respect for all those who died in the cause of freedom.
This is a lovely example for the people of the North, with our petty vindictiveness. We are asking them to forget the past, but what are we doing here? Nothing.
Would Deputy L'Estrange allow questions to proceed?
This is a disgraceful example to our Northern brethren.
It reflects the Deputy's bitter and prejudiced state of mind, which will never bring about the unity of minds and hearts which is required for the reunification of our country.
It reflects more than anything else the vindictiveness and guilt of the Fianna Fáil Party.