Vol. 450 No. 8
3 Miss Harney asked the Taoiseach the proposals, if any, the Government has to commemorate the involvement of Irish people in the Allied Forces which fought in the Second World War in view of the fact that this year is the 50th anniversary of the end of that war. [5454/95]
During Question Time on 15 February. I indicated my intention to pay tribute to all Irish people from both sides of the Border who lost their lives in the Second World War. I intend to visit the Irish War Memorial Park at Islandbridge on 15 April — the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp by Allied troops — for a ceremony in honour of all those Irish people who died in the Second World War. When the arrangements for the visit are put in place in consultation with the Office of Public Works and the War Memorial Committee, I will be very happy to consider who might appropriately be invited. I will, of course, invite representatives of the British Legion and survivors of Belsen concentration camp and other concentration camps who now live in Ireland.
I also propose to visit the Irish Jewish Museum on 27 April on Holocaust Remembrance Day. The necessary arrangements are being made in consultation with the committee of the museum.
I propose to include reference to the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and those who died in its course in the proclamation to be read by me at the opening of the national day of commemoration on 9 July.
I am pleased with the Taoiseach's response. Is the Government involved in arranging the ceremony at the Irish War Memorial Park or is the Taoiseach attending it as head of Government?
I am arranging it and am visiting the Irish War Memorial Park as head of Government, the details of which are being arranged by the Office of Public Works. I wish to pay tribute to those who died in the Second World War. I feel very strongly that this involved the combined sacrifice of people from both traditions on both parts of this island. The defeat of Nazi tyranny was one of the great achievements of the 20th century and many Irish people played a major part in it. It is important that we remember this anniversary and we can share a sense of pride in complete harmony with those of the Unionist tradition on this island.
I hope my visit to the Irish War Memorial Park will show people of the Unionist tradition that we appreciate the sacrifices that many in the Nationalist tradition shared with them in this great achievement, namely the ending of the Second World War and the Fascist tyranny on the continent of Europe.
I am pleased by what the Taoiseach said but I am still somewhat confused. I accept he is visiting it to pay his tribute but will a ceremony he held there which others can attend? Will people be invited to attend and if so, will it be organised by his Department?
It is being organised by my Department in conjunction with the Office of Public Works. The details, which will probably be very simple, have not been worked out in great depth. It will be basically a visit and some remarks will be made. I had occasion to pay tribute at the forum to my constituency colleague, who was then Minister of State at the Department of Finance, for the way the Office of Public Works maintains the Garden of Remembrance, one of the most beautiful in the country. It is appropriate from every point of view that the existence of the garden should be brought to the attention of the public not just for its intrinsic beauty but, more importantly, for the magnificent achievement it commemorates — an achievement which brings together people from all traditions on this island. I hope this gesture on our part will be seen in a positive light north of the Border by people who might feel we do not appreciate as fully as we really do the value of their tradition and sacrifice.
