Ruairí Quinn
Question:1 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the progress to date of the millennium committee; when its proposals to mark the millennium will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17753/99]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - Millennium Celebrations.
Gay Mitchell
Question:2 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Taoiseach the proposals, if any, the millennium office has for Dublin. [18776/99]
Trevor Sargent
Question:3 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if the National Millennium Committee is considering free public transport for the period 31 December 1999 to 1 January 2000. [19953/99]
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:4 Mr. Deenihan asked the Taoiseach the arrangements, if any, that have been or are being made to have a joint celebration of the millennium with the UK Government in view of the long and varied cultural, artistic and commercial history which both countries share; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21216/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.
The progress to date of the National Millennium Committee is outlined in detail in the progress report which I circulated to all Members of the House on 28 September last. I intend circulating an updated version of the report to Members shortly which will include recent developments.
The National Millennium Committee was established in November 1998 to advise on suitable national projects for inclusion in the Government's millennium programme and its work will cover the period 1999 through to the end of the year 2000. On the recommendations of the committee, the Government has to date approved nearly £23 million funding to millennium projects. I propose to outline details of a number of these projects and also to include details in the progress report to be circulated to Members. I also propose to update the House on the Government's millennium programme.
The National Millennium Committee's plan to mark and celebrate this most remarkable of historical benchmarks is well advanced. As the end of this 1,000 year cycle fast approaches, it is worth reminding ourselves that a millennium comes about only once every 40 generations. That gives some indication of the scale involved and we should all feel privileged to be members of the generation which will witness this unique time. That privilege also brings with it a clear responsibility to commemorate the millennium in a way that is inclusive, lasting, rewarding and dignified.
I know I speak for all the members of what is a dedicated and committed National Millennium Committee when I state that our plans are for a millennium which will be memorable for all the right reasons. The National Millennium Committee is finalising a comprehensive millennium programme designed to reach out to everybody. It will encourage people everywhere to take part in witnessing the end of a century and a millennium and the dawning of a new era. At the same time, we will be stressing the millennium is also a time for reflection, a time to search for and identify the real reason we have a millennium to celebrate. The programme we are finalising will draw on our past heritage, culture and experiences while at the same time reflecting the modern, vibrant country we now have as we prepare to step into the 21st century.
It has been a core belief of the National Millennium Committee since its inception that the way we mark the millennium must be lasting and of benefit to the future generations which will lead this country deep into the new millennium. We could have lost the run of ourselves and channelled the entire £30 million into one non-stop party, spent millions on a national fireworks display or even blown it all on a wheel of fortune in the middle of O'Connell Street. Instead, we have struck what I confidently believe is an acceptable balance between the celebrations and other events and projects designed to reflect the enormous significance of this milestone in history.
The committee has identified three major flagship projects and agreed funding for 48 national projects which will rise to at least 60 in the coming months. To date, 106 community projects have been selected for funding and this will rise to at least 150. Three separate awards initiatives have been set up which will result in direct support for more than 1,200 locally based events and projects and the committee is co-ordinating a national programme of events for the millennium weekend.
To date the National Millennium Committee has identified three visionary flagship projects: the last light ceremony will be a simple, symbolic and poignant national event built around the final sunset of the millennium; the millennium family tree is an innovative project which will see more than one million native Irish oak trees planted in forests and woods throughout the country with each of the trees being ascribed to a household; and, the children's hour fundraising initiative has the full support and endorsement of the committee whereby everyone in the workforce is being asked to contribute their last hour's pay to this millennium initiative to raise funds for children's causes.
The millennium is also about celebration and the programme now being finalised by the committee for the millennium weekend – New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and 2 January – will tap into the growing sense of excitement. It will include spectacular fireworks displays in Dublin and other locations; a day long concert in Dublin and other concerts at venues throughout the country; the lighting of the bridges across the River Liffey in Dublin and the River Lee in Cork; all the bells in the country will be rung out for several minutes from midnight to herald the arrival of the new millennium; civic events, including tree planting, flag raising and recognition ceremonies, will take place in virtually all counties on new year's day; a unique ecumenical celebration, combining cultural, traditional and spiritual aspects, will be held in Dublin on 2 January and will be linked to ecumenical events in Northern Ireland; RTE will broadcast live from 11 a.m. on 31 December until 4 a.m. on 1 January and will compile 60 hours of programming to commemorate the millennium; a national two minute pause for reflection will be held on New Year's Day; special presentations will be made to all children born on New Year's Day and also to their parents; the new £1 millennium coin will be officially launched on New Year's Day; and a modern version of Messiah XXI will be televised nationwide.
The programme for the millennium is very much geared towards leaving positive reminders of the millennium. I have referred to the fact that the committee has agreed funding for 48 national projects designed to do just that. I will circulate details of those projects but some examples are as follows: the provision of £2 million towards the cost of two flagship projects of Míle Átha Cliath, the Liffey of lights and the boardwalk; up to £500,000 for the refurbishment of the Gaiety Theatre; £300,000 to the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery to reconstruct the Francis Bacon studio as a centrepiece of the gallery's collection; £50,000 to the Children's Cultural Centre, The Ark, Temple Bar for a millennium music theatre show and a visual arts programme on the nativity; £400,000 towards the new Church of Ireland Gascoigne home for the elderly; £100,000 to St. Brigid's parish for its children's centre project; £100,000 for the permanent floodlighting of more than 20 churches in the Dublin diocese and £50,000 to rehang the St. George's bells.
Other national projects include the allocation of £750,000 to SHARE in Cork towards the building of a day care centre; £1 million for projects, productions and exhibitions which celebrate 2,000 years of Christianity, including the floodlighting of churches countrywide, the funding of bells for churches, the development of ancient pilgrim paths, a peace park beside Croagh Patrick, County Mayo, and the provision of accommodation facilities for pilgrims to Glendalough, County Wicklow; £500,000 for a new footbridge across the River Lee; and £250,000 to the Irish Wheelchair Association towards the provision of a mobility centre in Clane, County Kildare. A sum of £250,000 has been awarded to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the development of a site it owns in Dublin as a special facility; £210,000 has been awarded to the Simon Community for refurbishment programmes in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Dundalk; £300,000 has been awarded to Cork Corporation for the permanent illumination of a number of prominent bridges; £500,000 has been provided to rescue the historic lighthousekeepers houses at five of Ireland's headlands in Counties Cork, Clare, Kerry, Antrim and Down; £531,000 has been awarded for the purchase of a cinemobile – a Bord Scannán na hÉireann project; the Bank of Ireland has advanced £10 million for the millennium scholars' trust to support scholars over a ten year period; £100,000 has been provided towards The Whoseday Book, a unique millennium year diary in aid of the Irish Hospice Foundation; and £80,000 has been provided for The Millennium Book, a unique treasure trove of the thoughts of 4,000 students throughout the country.
The £3 million millennium events awards will guarantee funding and promotional support for up to 1,000 events. There have been 1,400 applications for funding under the millennium recognition awards – we recently announced 106 awards and hope to make some more in the near future.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. Does he agree that most of the events and initiatives he has outlined simply augment funding which is already ongoing through national lottery grants and a variety of Government Departments? The Minister outlined three flagship events, the last lights, the tree planting and the children's hour project. There is no lasting impacting monument to the millennium such as the declaration to abolish illiteracy and the implementation of a funding structure for that or a declaration to abolish homelessness. Does the Minister agree that such declarations would represent a much more fitting end to the millennium and the current state of the Irish economy?
The Minister previously announced an initiative in regard to a millennium candle for all Irish households. I notice that is not mentioned. Has that scheme been dropped or will it go ahead? If it is to go ahead, how and when will the candles be distributed and what will be the cost?
I would not agree these programmes would normally be pursued. The last lights ceremony is certainly not one that is usual. The Simon Community, the Wheelchair Association and the St. Vincent de Paul awards, the special fundraising initiative in respect of the children's hour, boardwalks and the bridges and so on are projects at which the National Millennium Committee looked. The committee looked at more than 800 projects in total. In its wisdom or otherwise, it selected three flagship projects and about 60 national projects.
The 60 national projects strike a balance between doing things, as the Deputy mentioned, for the homeless – we have been able to give some support to the Simon Community, although not as much as we wished – and the celebratory aspect. We thought about the three flagship pro jects at length. The committee advertised and invited Deputies, Senators and colleagues to put forward proposals on what we might do. Having received 800 or so ideas and submissions, the committee unanimously came to the conclusion that the three flag ship projects at which we arrived were the best available to us.
We did not get proposals to build domes, big wheels or such items. We got many proposals, as the Deputy said, to help the homeless, and we have done that. We have tried to strike a balance between not augmenting existing programmes and giving the odd programme a push where it deserved it, as in the case of Simon. The three flagship projects include the last lights project. That will be a very poignant ceremony for communities. There are plans to hold a major concert in College Green and the last lights ceremony will take place in the middle of that concert. The committee unanimously felt that was a nice idea rather than have people congregate at midnight. Rather than putting all the focus on midnight on New Year's Eve, we would try to bring it back to 4.30 p.m. when the last light of the century and decade fades so that extended families and children could get involved. That is how the last lights idea was born.
The proposal to plant an oak tree for every household in four forests is well developed and if at all possible, the name of the household will be attached to the tree. We believe the planting of oak trees is a lasting project – I understand we are quite short of such trees – which will celebrate each household. Children's hour will make a lasting impact in that a couple of million pounds will be collected from all of us. I hope the last hour of our income will go to the children's hour. These are lasting projects which will help children, grow oak trees and which will allow families to gather at about 4.30 p.m. to celebrate the millennium.
The candle project is still on. The post office will post the candles before the millennium. We are in negotiation with the post office as to the precise cost of that. The candles will cost around £900,000, although I do not have the exact figure. The committee is very excited about that project. It will allow Ireland, in a poignant and sensible way, to reflect on the century as the last light fades, and I encourage everyone to take part.
The Minister did not refer to Question No. 4 in his reply. Will he outline any arrangements being made by both Governments for joint celebrations? I am sure the Minister will accept that despite the dark and negative aspect of the relationship between both countries over the past 800 years, there have been a positive ones as well in the areas of literature, sport, religion, architecture and law. Our entire legal system is based on the British one, as is the running of this House. Will the Minister outline any efforts being made by the Government to hold joint celebratory events next year?
I should have referred to that. There is a number of North-South projects. The committee awarded £1 million to the Manchester project, the Irish centre in Manchester, which was approved by the Government and announced. That is a major flagship project which has also received the support of the British Government and the UK Manchester council. It is an £11 million or £12 million project and we are contributing £1 million as our way of saluting and recognising the Irish abroad at the turn of the century and of thanking them for their support for Ireland. We thought it was fitting to do that.
There is also a number of North-South projects, including a Dublin-Belfast ecumenical service and a number of art exhibitions and theatrical performances into which we have jointly entered with the Northern authorities. They are the main items, but we are in close touch with the North and the UK and so far, we have agreed on four or five projects.
At the recent plenary session of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, I raised this matter and it received enthusiastic support from the then Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, and from the other members as well. While the initiatives the Minister proposed are plausible, there is a great opportunity for both islands to do something to mark the millennium. With respect, it is something the Minister should have considered further. It would be easy to organise something at this stage which would be very positive and well received.
We will look at that to see if there is anything we can do. We have been talking to them at length about it. We started with Manchester and agreed the ecumenical services and the art exhibitions. If there is anything else we can do, we will talk to them about it. I mentioned the lighthouse project earlier. The British Government and the Northern authorities are very keen that we would support the renovation of the light houses. I do not have the note with me but, from memory, they also supported that. Funds are being spent renovating lighthouses in County Antrim and around the Northern coast so the lighthouse keepers houses will be available to the public.
Of the £23 million, how much has been spent and how much is it envisaged will be spent on public relations for the committee itself? The Minister said it is important we do not lose the run of ourselves. Is the Minister aware that in a supplement in Monday's, The Examiner, on the millennium—
The Deputy should not display a newspaper.
—there are no fewer than nine photographs of the Minister? The millennium committee is increasingly being met with ever greater amounts of cynicism and is seen as a personal promotion vehicle for the Minister. Will the Minister admit that he is losing the run of himself and that that is excessive?
He is very photogenic.
Question No. 3 relates to free public transport on 1 January as a gesture to commuters. Does the Minister of State agree that the worst possible start for 1 January is for commuters to be faced with his colleague giving them the cold shower of a substantial fare hike—
Five pence.
—of more than 5p, which we will come to later? This is a totally inappropriate start for public transport in the new millennium.
I am sorry if the Deputy feels I am trying to project my own cause.
Nine photographs is somewhat excessive between pop stars and authors.
That is right and when I saw it, I thought it was a bit overdone.
Even the PR people blushed.
Half a dozen photographs would have been plenty.
On the question of public transport, we had meetings with CIE and have asked it to look at how it can help on New Year's Eve, in particular.
They have undertaken to come back to us before the end of the month with their final plans. I have asked them to look at the DART, train services and late night bus services in particular. They had intended to close early, but I have asked them to reconsider that and they are having a close look at that.
Does the Minister of State agree that compared to millennium preparations in Britain, our efforts have been a little bit of a damp squib? In relation to our preparations, is the Minister of State aware that in Britain the millennium committee has announced that it is putting security forces on high alert for the millennium holiday because of outbreaks of disorder? Has he examined that possibility?
On the question we put down about public transport, the Minister of State said he will come back in a month and I await that reply with interest. However, to take up Deputy Howlin's point, if we are to look at the next millennium, does the Minister of State agree that the theme of the next millennium will be ecological sustainability and that a lasting monument to that would be free public transport in the next millennium, if the Minister of State is interested in doing something along those lines, or are we to be faced at the end of this millennium with price hikes which are unacceptable to ordinary people?
There is no question of free public transport in the new millennium. I am sure my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, will remind me of that. I have asked CIE if it will go the extra mile, if Members will pardon the pun—
To coin a phrase.
—and do something special that evening to facilitate people. CIE has undertaken to study that for me. I do not agree with the Deputy's damp squib comment regarding us and Britain. If one looks at what is happening all over the world, leaving Britain aside for a moment, our programme is probably the best balanced and most exciting one available. If the Deputy looks at the websites he peruses from time to time he will come to the same conclusion.
Regarding Britain, I make no apology for not building a dome for millions of pounds and I make no apology for not spending £30 million on a big wheel such as that rising painstakingly over the Thames. I stand over the decisions of the committee, which are to raise money for children, to give money to the Simon Community and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, build pedestrian bridges, work on projects in Cork and so on. I stand over all those projects. The tree for every household project will benefit us. It is a project the Deputy's party should support – I think it was his idea.
Yes.
I invited Deputies 12 months ago to give us any thoughts they had on how to commemorate the millennium. Many Members present offered ideas and most of those ideas have been taken on board and are reflected in the programme. This is a well balanced, exciting programme. We have not lost the run of ourselves and when it is over we can look back and say the funds we had at our disposal were carefully managed.
What about the security operation?
I understand that the Garda has cancelled most leave for that weekend or most parts of the weekend. That is my understanding at the moment. I do not expect a security crisis.
They do in Britain, where they have gone into this in quite a bit of detail.
As I explained earlier, neither I nor the committee see the millennium in quite the same way as the cool Yule version in the UK. We do not see it that way here.
One submission relates to support for Irish emigrants. Are there specific projects that will be funded and what exactly do they entail? We should reach out to Irish citizens who will not be on the island, but in their hearts they may well long to be in Ireland on this historic day.
There are only two at this stage. One is RTE's commitment to broadcast what is going on around the island, North and South, to as many parts of the world as it can arrange. There are link-ups with New York, Boston and London, so there will be substantial communication over that weekend period.
The Manchester project I mentioned earlier is our main emigrant commitment and is our flagship project. There were other fine projects in the UK, such as the excellent one in Coventry involving rehabilitation, although so far we have been unable to support that. However, we have not completed that yet and we can certainly look at more.
Was there a request for a flagship project to allow ageing Irish emigrants, who might have emigrated from the 1930s to the 1950s and who may now be in impoverished circumstances, to be brought home to Ireland? Would that not be a fitting project for a wealthier Ireland, which could reach out to people Ireland rejected in hungrier times in our history?
I do not have a note on that project. Approximately 865 people were considered by the committee, but the committee would have logistical difficulties in bringing home impoverished emigrants.
Are the Minister of State and the committee considering the request from the committee organising the children's museum? Is that request being considered in the context of the funds available to celebrate the millennium? I am not certain whether we are celebrating the passing of the millennium or the coming of the new one.
Regarding Question No. 3, I was staggered to hear the Minister of State say that those who supply public transport were considering knocking off early. Surely if we are to bring people into the centre of the city and the gardaí are being asked to cancel all leave, the committee should be concerned with how people are to get to and from events. If there is no public transport a large section of the population cannot experience many of the events, as those without cars will not be able to attend. In the next few weeks the committee members should put their heads together and make certain there is proper public transport. If it is not free it should be at a very reasonable rate, which the Minister of State could support from his budget. This would ensure people could get to and from events. It would be far safer from a security perspective and it would get people in and out of the city centre – I refer to Dublin in particular – easily and quickly. If the public transport body cannot provide what the committee feels is an adequate service, surely we can call on the private sector to supply the necessary transport.
The Dún Laoghaire project to build and run a children's museum was considered a very fine project by the committee. The promoters were high quality, but it foundered because it had no site. There was some indication of a possible location for the museum, but that did not work out. It foundered on the basis of having no site on which to proceed. That was the only difficulty, as otherwise it was a fine project which the committee would have liked to support.
Will the Minister of State leave money over so we can proceed, either in Dún Laoghaire or elsewhere?
The Deputy would want to move fast. On transport, when I made the comment about wanting to knock off early, on a normal Friday night the Nitelink operates from 11.30 p.m. until about 3 a.m., although this will not be a normal Friday night. On a bank holiday the Nitelink would run until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. but the other services would knock off around 10 p.m. We have asked them to see if they can extend this time a little, particularly for the DART, although there are costs involved in doing so. It is not for me to lecture transport workers and I do not wish to do so, but I ask them to remember this is a one-off and not to try to use the occasion to wrestle additional income from any source. I ask them to take on board the spirit of the millennium. We should get through it as a nation with some dignity and not squabble about funds.