Vol. 492 No. 4
1 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's consideration of the appropriate contribution it can make to the celebration of the millennium; when he will be in a position to make an announcement on the Government's plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13505/98]
The Government has approved the establishment of a Government millennium steering group. I have been asked to chair the steering group and the membership will be announced in the near future. The steering group will examine and make recommendations on significant national projects which have been proposed as millennium projects and possible means of funding such projects. It will examine and recommend a system for supporting community, local, county or regional commemorative projects which will provide an opportunity for local communities, including in areas of social disadvantage, to participate in the millennium commemoration.
Is the steering committee the same body to which the Taoiseach referred on 10 March when he talked about a ministerial task force? Will it be a ministerial committee or will it include representatives from non-governmental bodies?
It is the same group to which the Taoiseach referred. The committee will be made up of representatives from various Departments which will have particular roles in the commemorations. It is envisaged that outside interests, such as business, arts, trade unions and so on, will be represented on the committee. In representing the Taoiseach's Department, I will be the only ministerial representative on the committee.
Has the Government decided on its budget for the millennium? In disbursing moneys to local organisations, will the committee operate through the existing channels available to the Departments or will it establish a stand alone method for allocating money, which would be better than chasing groups from one Department to another?
The Taoiseach indicated that the millennium is the 2000th anniversary of Christianity. As Chair of the committee, does the Minister consider that in marking such an event it is important to bear in mind the appalling atrocities for which certain sections of Christianity were responsible during that 2000 year period? We must also bear in mind the need to encourage open mindedness, tolerance and pluralism, particularly on this island, during the next millennium and the fact that there are people other than Christians living here.
A budget for the commemorations has not yet been decided. I can only refer the Deputy to what the Minister for Finance stated in his budget speech about some funding being available for suitable projects. The committee will have to hold further discussions with him on that matter. The task of the steering committee will be to co-ordinate activities, not to dominate them.
The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation has already announced the setting up of a millennium committee which seeks to deal with festivals and celebrations. Dublin Corporation has set up a company, Míle Átha Cliath, and has appointed a chief executive and a board. It has a list of projects which it wants to carry out. Various churches, organisations and local authorities are organising activities for the millennium. Our role as a steering committee will be to try to pull all that together and to put recommendations to Government about a small number of substantial projects which would properly and appropriately commemorate this important occasion.
I am conscious of the Deputy's remark about Christianity. It is important that we are inclusive. For example, we have tried to make the 1798 celebrations inclusive rather than cause further division or bitterness. I am opposed to any type of celebration of the millennium which would deepen divisions between churches or people.
As soon as the House goes into recess, I will reflect on the discussions in the House and consult widely on how best to proceed.
Will the Minister of State consider having representatives from the Opposition parties on this steering group to celebrate the new millennium rather than confining it to the Government?
I am conscious of the need to have consensus. It is proposed that this committee will be appointed by the Government. I will discuss with the Taoiseach what structure might be used to consult the Opposition on the matter. I want to consult the House fully so that our commemoration is something of which the country can be proud. I am not interested in grandiose projects or schemes but in commemorating the passage of time, as marked by the year 2000, in an appropriate, practical and dignified way and in making it a commemoration of all the people so that everyone feels they own this project.
We must also lower expectations. I do not want the word to go out from this House that every group can apply for funding for a pet project. We should be focused and structured and select and support projects which will stand the test of time so that future generations will know we expressed our national pride of place, the importance of our cultural traditions and the aspirations of our communities in a dignified way. I will consult widely on the matter and I will discuss it with the Taoiseach.
I welcome the Minister's confirmation that there will no element of triumphalism in the projects supported by the Government.
Perhaps the Minister could indicate if the Department of Education and Science is considering any projects for the millennium, particularly in relation to literacy. Would the Minister for Education and Science consider setting a date, such as 2005, by which to eliminate adult illiteracy? Perhaps the Minister could also indicate if the Department of Education and Science is considering the inclusion of a study of tolerance in the school curriculum, both at primary and secondary level.
I am not aware of nor do I see any proposal on my files from the Department of Education and Science on the matters of either literacy or tolerance. I am anxious that the tone of the celebrations should help people in disadvantaged areas and assist in the areas of literacy and tolerance. At the same time I do not want a simple millennium celebration to become an excuse for funding a whole range of projects, which the Government should and does fund on a day to day basis, such as literacy and tolerance programmes. We will not throw money around like confetti because there happens to be a millennium and use it as an excuse for a whole range of projects. The Deputy is correct in suggesting that if we can structure various projects and if the committee receives proposals from the Department of Education that can be ringfenced in some sensible way, then we will look at them.
Will the Minister agree he cannot throw any money around, not to mention throwing it around like confetti, if the Minister for Finance has not yet given him any? Will the Minister indicate whether there is any likelihood of the Minister for Finance allocating any money to this committee before we reach the millennium given that it is only 18 months away? Does he know the date by which funds might be allocated to the committee? Will the Minister explain how his committee can make plans when it is unaware of what budget, if any, will be available to it?
It depends on how one approaches these matters. Do we grab money from the Department of Finance and then sit down and ask how we will spend it because it has been given to us by the Minister? That is one way of managing finances. The other way is for the committee to recommend certain projects because they will express our national pride and will mark the 2000 years tidemark and reflect on mankind in a proper way. If we approach it from that angle we can ask the Minister for Finance for the funds we need. I will be more comfortable when the committee decides what needs to be done and then secures the necessary funding. That is what we are at.
Will the Minister indicate what funding he requires to reflect on mankind?
I do not have a budget. I received this assignment the week before last. We now have to form the steering group and call a meeting. Already there are a couple of dozen projects on the files from Dublin Corporation, Dublin Tourism and many groups throughout the country.
Did the Minister realise only last week or two weeks ago that the millennium was coming?
We will get there. This is only mid-l998. It is not the most urgent issue facing the House.
We will all meet there at the same time.
Are we commemorating 2000 years of Christianity or are we seeking to learn from the 2000 years and create a more open society for the future? The mission statement of the committee is important in that regard. Will the Minister indicate if there is a statement of intent for the steering group?
No, there is not. We have just started the process. The files have been building up as people have been forwarding ideas, suggestions and submissions and so on. We have only commenced to tackle it since my appointment. The committee will be appointed shortly. So far we have not compiled a mission statement.
However, I am glad to hear what the Deputy has to say, because we need a mission statement. We need to make sure that the celebrations are part of the solutions to our problems rather than create any new problems. There can and will always be different interpretations of a celebration like this. Different churches will see it in different ways. Different groups will see it as marking a different passage in their time.
It is also the end of a century in which there have been wars and bloodshed and at the same time the great excitement of inventions and medical breakthroughs. People will see it as another major birthday and will want to reflect on it in that way.
I am anxious that the Government takes an inclusive role which allows the churches, professions, local authorities and groups to do what they do best within an overall theme of inclusiveness.
A global project.
This will be transcendental.
With this objective of commemorating the millennium in mind, has the Government plans to develop a multi-purpose national sports arena which could also be used as a national event centre for music concerts, in light of the planning problems associated with many venues and the need for a large suitable venue to avoid problems associated with the lack of capacity of venues such as the Point Theatre?
That is a matter for a separate question.
With regard to the Minister's response on literacy and initiatives from the Department of Education and Science, he might convey to that Department that it might begin by withdrawing the directive it sent out in recent weeks to some of the most disadvantaged inner city schools informing them that they must lose teachers.
That is a matter for the Minister for Education and Science.
In drawing up a strategy, has the Minister decided whether we are celebrating a new beginning, that is a new millennium, or commemorating 2,000 years of the past? There is quite a difference. If we will celebrate a new beginning, which I hope we will, we will deal with the sort of problems outlined by Deputy Gregory and Deputy De Rossa as distinct from thinking always of the past. Given that we hope for peace on this island for the first time in hundreds of years, surely this is an opportunity to celebrate a new beginning for Ireland and think about all the positive things about for the future as distinct from always thinking of the past?
What is the betting on it coinciding with a change of Government?
I do not have any difficulty with what Deputy Barrett said, which is probably accurate. It is a little like every birthday.
When a person is over 50, he or she starts thinking of the past.
One thinks of the good and bad times of the past and celebrates the start of a new year. I suppose in that sense it will be a commemoration like any other, but I hope it will focus on the future while at the same time taking careful note of the past.
One thing I must do rather urgently is compile a list of what is happening around the world. We want to know what other Governments are doing to see if there are ideas which would be useful to us——
Exploding nuclear bombs.
——and the officials are working on that at present.
