Vol. 828 No. 2
6. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department have given any commitment to the Health Service Executive to jointly fund the building of a new health centre in Inishbofin (details supplied). [3968/14]
I ask the Minister of State to confirm whether he has given any commitment to the HSE regarding the co-funding of a new health centre on the island of Inishbofin.
My Department is aware of the proposed development by the Health Service Executive, HSE, of a new health centre on Inishbofin. I understand that my Department has received correspondence from the HSE regarding the centre a number of times since 2004. However, I am advised that my Department did not agree at any stage to fund this development, either jointly or otherwise.
I am, of course, conscious of the particular challenges faced by island communities in areas such as health care, due to their location and travel constraints. However, since my Department’s budget for infrastructure development has been reduced substantially in recent years, it is not in a position to enter into any commitment related to the proposed health centre development. In any event, my Department would view any such development as being the responsibility of the HSE in the first instance.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. He will be aware that the need to provide a new health centre was identified under the CLÁR programme as far back as 2003. In response to a parliamentary question last November, the Minister for Health stated that co-funding remained an issue. In that context, I thank the Minister of State for his clarification on this issue. I believe, as does the community on Inishbofin, that this is ultimately a HSE project and it is the responsibility of the executive to proceed with the planning application, purchase the land required, go to tender and provide a modern facility for the people of the island. As far as I am concerned, the HSE is responsible for all care centres across the country, both on the mainland and on the islands. I thank the Minister of State for his response. He visited Inishbofin last year and saw the facilities that are there currently, which are not what one would hope for in any community. I will be communicating with the HSE further and will relay the Minister of State's view that this is ultimately a HSE project.
I understand the necessity of providing a modern, fit-for-purpose health centre on Inishbofin. I had the privilege and pleasure of visiting the island last year. While there, I visited the health centre, which leaves a lot to be desired. Anything my Department can do to convince the HSE or any other entity of the necessity of providing a new centre, it will gladly do it. However, we see it as primarily the responsibility of the HSE. Hopefully progress will be made. As I understand it, the HSE is in the process of purchasing additional land to accommodate a new centre. It is a problem which must resolved and anything my Department can do to help, it will do. We see it, however, as primarily the responsibility of the HSE.
Once again, I thank the Minister of State for the clarification and I will be in contact with the HSE regarding his statement.
7. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact that the survey of Coolrain bog has shown that little can be rehabilitated, if he will consider transferring the SAC status from Coolrain bog to another compensatory habitat. [4012/14]
15. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the original ban on turf cutting in designated areas throughout the country was so widespread, in view of his recent announcement on the matter; if he will state the total allocation for compensation from his Department to turf cutters since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3998/14]
22. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide detail on the bogs that are to be closed to turf cutting on foot of the publication of the review of raised bog natural heritage areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3960/14]
Following on from the Government's publication of the long-term plan for bogs and in view of the fact that the survey of the Coolrain bog has shown that little of it can be rehabilitated, will the Minister consider transferring the SAC status from Coolrain bog to another compensatory habit?
I proposed to take Questions Nos. 7, 15 and 22 together.
As referred to in my earlier reply to priority Question No. 3 on 15 January last, I published three comprehensive documents dealing with Ireland's peatlands - an overall draft national peatlands strategy, a draft national raised bog special areas of conservation, SAC, management plan and a review of raised bog natural heritage areas, NHAs. Collectively, these documents seek to give clarity on the future management of Ireland's peatlands. The three documents are available on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie.
The draft national raised bog SAC management plan provides for the future restoration and management of our 53 raised bog SACs. It sets out the approach to how each of these SACs is to be conserved and restored and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed. Specifically regarding Coolrain bog, while the scientific assessment of this SAC shows there is limited potential to restore additional active raised bog, this does not mean that the bog is of little conservation interest. This small bog contains a significant area of active bog at present which would be lost if turf cutting were allowed to continue. Approximately 50 ha of the high bog and cutaway has been restored by Coillte with EU LIFE programme funding. Additional restoration work will be necessary to offset damage caused by the turf cutting, which will continue to impact on the bog for many years to come. The restoration work needed will be investigated and a conservation plan developed within two years. It is hoped that the local community will take an active role in the development of this plan. It may be noted that the EU habitats directive does not allow for SACs to be de-designated unless damage is caused by natural forces which is not the case with Coolrain bog.
In terms of NHAs, the Government decided to review the situation regarding these bogs which the previous Government had decided should close from the beginning of this year. The recently published review of NHAs sets out proposals for a significant reconfiguration of raised bog NHAs to meet national conservation targets, while reducing the impact on turf cutters and on taxpayers.
The proposed reconfiguration will improve conservation outcomes by increasing the area of active or restorable raised bog within the network of sites and excluding the most heavily cut sites from the network, thereby avoiding any impact on over 80% of active turf cutters. Turf cutting will continue on 46 NHAs but will be phased out on another 36 NHAs over three years, with the introduction of an individual permit system from the current year. Seven sites will have their boundaries redrawn and turf cutting will be phased out in the reduced areas only. A total of 25 new sites will be proposed for designation as raised bog NHAs to replace the habitat lost through de-designation of the more heavily-cut sites. Many of these are in public ownership or have relatively few or no turf cutters.
Any turf cutter required to cease turf cutting on an NHA will be offered compensatory measures along the same lines as those available to turf cutters in raised bog SACs. Compensation will be made available immediately to active turf cutters in these NHA sites who meet the requirements of my Department's scheme. My Department will write to members of the public identified as having an interest in these sites in the coming weeks and notices will be placed in local newspapers.
It may be noted that compensation to the value of some €7.4 million has been paid by my Department to turf cutters in raised bog SACs since 2011.
Three Deputies have tabled questions, Deputies McLellan, Ó Fearghaíl and Naughten. I call Deputy McLellan first.
I have been looking at the Government's long-term plan for bogs-----
Can I ask a question please?
I heard the Deputy.
Is the Ceann Comhairle not going to allow me to contribute?
No, because the Deputy has not tabled a question. I am dealing with the Deputies who have tabled questions. If there is time, I will call Deputy Flanagan for a supplementary question. I ask him to allow Deputy McLellan to speak without interruption.
Coolrain bog is one of the 53 bogs referred to by the Minister and no solution has been put forward to accommodate the 70 or more turf cutters on it. Scientific research shows that the bog only ranks as moderate in terms of habitat quality and that out of a total of 51 ha of raised bog, less than one hectare can be restored. This is based on a survey conducted in 2003 and does not take into account work on the bog since then. In fact, the area that can now be restored is less than one hectare. The only other small bog suitable for turf cutting, Knockacoller bog was also designated as an SAC during the term of the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government. Would the Minister agree that the solution here is to remove the SAC status from Coolrain bog and to use Abbeyleix bog as a compensatory habit? The latter bog is larger, with over 99 ha of raised bog. A larger area is active and a larger area is restorable. There is no turf cutting taking place on Abbeyleix bog and the local community wants to preserve it for education and tourism purposes.
Modern scientific methods, such as LiDAR, give us a good insight into Coolrain bog. It is of high ecological interest due to the presence of an extensive area of active raised bog. The site’s south eastern location within a sandstone area adds further interest. Recent peat-cutting around the southern margin of the bog is likely to have caused significant damage. From a scientific point, this is a valuable site. Our active raised bogs and SACs, special area of conservation, are regarded as being the most precious in the world. That is why we are trying to protect these 53 bogs.
In light of the Minister’s recent statements, does he consider the bans on turf-cutting on raised bogs being somewhat excessive? There has been a long tradition of turf-cutting at Mouds bog in County Kildare, along with a tradition of great respect for the habitat’s flora and fauna.
Ireland signed up to the habitats directive in 1992 and transposed it into law in 1997. Assessments were carried out on several bogs and, initially, 32 bogs were designated. The European Commission asked for other bogs to be added to the designation. Scientific surveys have proved these bogs are precious and have the largest amount of active raised bogs in them. To change a SAC designation would require a natural disaster such as a landslide.
There is some flexibility in Article 6(4) of the habitats directive. I am appealing to turf-cutters to look at this consultation document to see if it gives an opportunity to deal with this. I will take this matter to Europe but it has to be part of an overall package for the 53 bogs. The Commission will not entertain any proposals to re-designate a site if there has been cutting on a bog.
The Commission has welcomed our approach. There is an ideal opportunity offered by the consultation documents to examine the bogs and limited turf-cutting.
This is a consultation document. An additional 25 bogs will be designated as NHAs, natural heritage area. I am concerned that those cutting turf on these bogs will not get an opportunity to make a submission regarding the proposed designation. Will the Minister ensure the public notices about the designation process are placed in the local media and newspapers, as well as on the sites? Already, Bord na Móna is closing up drains on some sites, which seems to be a preparation for designation. Surely, the owners of these bogs should have right to know what is going on.
The 25 sites are being mapped and there are technical issues which need to be addressed. It will not be a fait accompli and people affected will have an opportunity to appeal against a designation. As regards the discussion document, those who could be affected by designations will have a chance to give their observations. Those affected by sites already designated will not have the opportunity to appeal their designation.
Public notices will be issued shortly. Anyone with a connection to these 25 bogs will be notified, even those not cutting on these bogs. The number of notifications will far exceed the numbers who are actively cutting turf on these sites.
What about the timeline?
People will have the opportunity-----
It is Deputy McLellan’s supplementary. We can come back to Deputy Naughten later.
I appeal to everyone----
Sorry, Minister but we are over time. It is one minute for a supplementary.
Coolrain bog is too small an area to restore as a wet active raised bog. Deputy Stanley and I are putting forward a reasonable solution to have a larger SAC retained and, accordingly, get a better outcome for both turf-cutters and the environment. Will the Minister seriously consider this?
With regard to Deputy Naughten-----
We will come back to Deputy Naughten in a moment.
People from Coolrain can make a submission within the discussion document process. I would advise them to do so. This case can be put forward to the Commission. Article 6(4) of the habitats directive allows people to make a case for exceptions to SAC designation. In the past 20 years, however, only 20 exceptions were made in this regard.
While people will have the opportunity to appeal a designation, it must be based on scientific evidence. It is now admitted that the initial scientific evidence used in designating NHAs was flawed. I also believe the scientific evidence in designating the SACs was flawed. Will the Minister agree the Fernandez report should not be the basis for making any designations and should be thrown out? Will he agree that it is a damning indictment of the NPWS, National Parks and Wildlife Service, that on its own bog, Lough Forbes, where there was no turf-cutting, only one tenth of the active raised bog is left in place? It should be noted at sites where turf is being cut, that the bogs have more than doubled. Will he agree the approach taken to date is fundamentally wrong? Will he go back to the Commission, hold up his hands and admit we used flawed evidence to designate these bogs and revisit the designations using real scientific evidence?
I certainly do not have to hold up my hands for anything. I have not been part of the history of the designations of these bogs.
Now, because of the approach I have taken, it has opened up this whole area for scientific re-evaluation. There are other approaches now, such as LiDAR, which were not used in the past. The designation of the further 25 bogs will be based on the scientific research carried out by the RPS Group. Overall, the RPS Group looked at 270 raised bogs including NHAs and SACs.
This was the most extensive approach ever taken to the bogs, using modern scientific methods. While the scientific methods used in the past were questionable in this instance, they are the most modern available and are well recognised globally. The 25 bogs will be based on the scientific evidence gathered by RPS.
The Minister comes in here with what sounds like a definite figure of 37% gone while RPS tells us that the original figures were wrong and data from 1994 was sparse. If the Minister does not know what was there originally, how can he tell how much has been lost? He has to deal with this. He keeps talking about damage done by turf cutters. Will he please explain why my bog has grown by 120%, why Michael Fitzmaurice’s bog is the best performing bog in the whole country when it comes to active raised bog, ARB, and why the bogs for which the Minister is responsible, where no turf is cut, are dying, although he continues to say turf cutting is doing damage?
In Deputy Flanagan’s case, I understand most of the bog he cuts is State-owned.
Most bogs are State-owned; 97% of them are. We cut around the periphery.
I understand that most of the Deputy’s bog is State-owned. The State purchased that bog-----
Most of them are State-owned.
There is limited turf cutting on it. I said that since the 53 special areas of conservation, SACs, were designated, we have lost 37% of the active raised bog.
That cannot be true.
That has been proved. We will preserve only 4% of all the bogs in this country. That is to protect the active raised bogs we have now that we are losing and which ecologically are the most precious in the world.
On the Minister’s bogs.
8. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aige cúnamh a chur ar fáil le hathchóiriú a dhéanamh ar chéibheanna Gaeltachta agus oileánda a ndearnadh scrios orthu sna stoirmeacha a bhí ann le gairid; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [3950/14]
Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, rinne na stoirmeacha a tharla cúpla seachtain ó shin an-dochar do bhóithre agus do chéibheanna beaga, go leor acu nach bhfuil faoi chúram na comhairlí contae. Rinneadh obair athchóirithe cheana, mar shampla i nGaoth Dobhair, faoi scéim na mbóithre áise agus scéim na gcéibheanna beaga. An bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire Stáit airgead a chur ar fáil do bhóithre áise, mar a thugtar orthu, agus do chéibheanna beaga as ciste na Roinne i mbliana mar gheall ar an damáiste a rinne na stoirmeacha?
Mar is eol don Teachta, tagann na céanna áitiúla faoi chúram na n-údarás áitiúil ábhartha agus is fúthu atá sé pé damáiste atá déanta dóibh a chur i gceart. Maidir le céanna oileánda go bhfuiltear ag brath orthu ó thaobh cúrsaí rochtana de, táthar ag súil go n-áireofar iad sin in aon phacáiste a bheidh ar fáil chun cuidiú leis an infreastruchtúr riachtanach a chur i gceart arís tar éis na stoirmeacha.
Sa chomhthéacs sin, cuireadh tuairisc eatramhach maidir leis an damáiste stoirme faoi bhráid an Rialtais le gairid. Tá mo Roinn, i gcomhar leis na húdaráis áitiúla agus áisíneachtaí eile, tar éis measúnú a dhéanamh ar an dochar atá déanta ar na hoileáin. Ní miste dom a lua go bhfuil scríofa agam chuig an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil agus chuig an Aire Stáit ag Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí chun aird ar leith a dhíriú ar an damáiste atá déanta ar na hoileáin.
Tá ceist bheag fhorlíontach agam. An bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire Stáit - déanfaidh freagra "Tá" nó "Níl" cúis - airgead a chur ar fáil do bhóithre áise agus céanna nach céanna chomhairle contae iad as ciste na Roinne de bharr an dochar a rinne na stoirmeacha i mbliana?
Faoi láthair, mar atá a fhios ag an Teachta, níl aon airgead breise curtha ar fáil ag mo Roinn do a leithéid sin de scéim. Sin ráite, tá scrúdú déanta ag oifigigh na Roinne ar chuid den damáiste atá déanta ag na stoirmeacha ar na hoileáin agus ar na cladaí atá luaite ag an Teachta. Bhí oifigeach sinsearach, innealtóir, ón Roinn amuigh ansin, fiú sular ndeachaigh éinne amach ón rialtas áitiúil. Bhí siad ansin i gcomhairle le chéile, tá tuairisc eatramhach curtha ar fáil agus cuirfear tuairisc chríochnúil ar fáil. Mar Aire Stáit, táim tiomanta ar ghach rud gur féidir a dhéanamh chun rudaí a chur i gceart ar na hoileáin.
Céard faoin mhórthír?
Ní shílim go ndéanann sé aon difríocht cad as a thagann an t-airgead, fad agus go ndéantar an obair. Ag an phointe seo, níl aon chinneadh déanta maidir leis na hoileáin nó aon chósta ar fud an iarthair a tharla dochar dóibh. Nuair a bheidh socrú déanta, áfach, agus más rud é go gcuirtear pacáiste tarrthála ar fáil, tá teagbháil déanta agam leis na hAirí eile, trí scríobh agus trí chruinnithe, go gcaithfear amharc i ndiaidh riachtanais na n-oileán chomh maith.
Táimid ag caint ar an nGaeltacht agus ar na hoileáin. An bhféadfadh an tAire Stáit a rá an bhfuil sé, nó an tAire sinsearach lena thaobh, tar éis iarratas a dhéanamh ar airgead leis an obair seo a dhéanamh, tá nó níl?
Mar atá a fhios ag an Aire Stáit, bhí an-damáiste déanta ar fud Chonamara ag tús na bliana sna stoirmeacha móra. Chonaic mé an damáiste sin in Inis Oírr, Inis Mór agus Inis Bó Finne, agus teastaíonn a lán airgid chun na fadhbanna sin a dheisiú. Tá a fhios agam go dteastaíonn cúnamh ón Rialtas agus tuigim go raibh an tAire Stáit ag caint le hAirí eile, an tAire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara, an Teachta Coveney, an tAire Chomhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil, an Teachta Hogan, agus an tAire Airgeadais, an Teachta Noonan, faoi seo.
Mar adúirt mé, táimid go léir i dteagmháil le chéile, chomh maith leis an Aire Stáit ar Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí, a bhfuil cúraimí orthu chomh maith, agus na comhairlí contae, ag iarraidh a theacht ar réiteach. Táimid ag fanacht go bhfeicfimid an mbeidh pacáiste curtha ar fáil. Más rud é go mbeidh, tá sé curtha in iúl ag mo Roinn do na Ranna eile an géarghá atá le hoibreacha a chur ar bun sna hoileáin chun an dochar a rinneadh a chur i gceart. Ní thig liomsa a rá ag an phointe seo go bhfuil aon airgead speisialta ag mo Roinn, ach táimid ag déanamh gach iarracht teacht ar airgead ar chuma éigin faoi choinne tabhairt faoi na deacrachtaí a athchóiriú agus a réiteach.
Tuigim, agus tá oileáin i mo cheantair féin, nach bhfuair muide an stoirm chéanna agus a fuair siad in iarthar nó deisceart na tíre, ach tharla rudaí agus tuigim an géarghá atá le seo. Tharla stoirm mhór i dTír Chonaill roinnt blianta ó shin agus rinneadh roinnt damáiste, ach de réir a chéile tá an obair á déanamh, cé go bhfuil cuid den obair ag glacadh tamaill. Tógfaidh sé am tabhairt faoin obair. Tá tuarisc eatramhach istigh agus cuirfear an phríomh thuairisc ar fáil agus feicfimid céard iad na cinntí a thiocfaidh as sin. Tá gach iarracht á dhéanamh freastal ar riachtanais na n-oileán agus ná bíodh aon dabht ar an Teachta faoi sin.
9. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the commemorative events that will be taking place in 2014 to acknowledge the centenary of the First World War and to remember the large number of Irish citizens who fought and died in the war. [3951/14]
26. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in detail the programme of events planned to commemorate the historic events between 2014 and 2018; the stage of planning these events are at; and if grants will be made available to ensure community-based events will be supported. [4014/14]
I think this question was originally addressed to the Taoiseach. We are well into the decade of commemorations and there have been initiatives in respect of the digital archive, developed by Google and the In Flanders Field Museum. There are intense discussions, particularly in the United Kingdom, about this commemoration. Many would like the emphasis to be on the 49,000 young Irishmen who tragically lost their lives in this military disaster. What cultural and educational events does the Minister intend to hold in commemoration of them?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 26 together.
With regard to commemorative events related to 2014, Deputies will be aware that significant occasions thus far have included the launch by the Taoiseach of the Military Pensions Service Archive online project at the GPO, at which I was very pleased to attend with the Minister for Justice and Equality and for Defence, Deputy Alan Shatter, as well as the launch by the Tánaiste at Google headquarters of the digitisation of Ireland's First World War memorial record. In addition, a provision of €6 million has been made in my Department's Vote for commemorative projects, including the GPO interpretative centre, and progress on these projects continues apace. Plans are also in place to mark the centenary of Cumann na mBan, the 1914 activities of the Ulster and Irish Volunteers, the Curragh Camp mutiny, as well as the enactment of the Third Home Rule Bill and the outbreak and escalation of the First World War.
Unrelated, of course, to the decade of centenaries, a significant programme is in place to commemorate the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf.
Deputies will be aware of the several initiatives over recent years to establish a framework for the commemoration of the First World War. It is appropriate that the service and loss of many thousands of Irish men and women in a terrible and tragic conflict would be acknowledged and understood. Following the historic timeline, the programme to commemorate the First World War will continue to evolve up until 2018, marking the salient anniversaries of particular significance. The Irish experience in the First World War is, of course, only one theme of a comprehensive commemorative programme that will seek to examine all aspects of Irish life and society in the revolutionary age.
Information on the developing commemorative programme will be available on my Department's website and individual announcements will issue for specific events. I recommend that people keep in touch with the Century Ireland online newspaper. I remain, as always, grateful to hear from Deputies with any views on commemorative arrangements.
I note the Minister's comments in regard to the spending of €6 million. Is there a specific website in regard to all the upcoming events? Are any more discussion fora planned, such as the forum recently held by the UCC history school, at which one of Prime Minister Cameron's directors of the commemoration spoke?
Is there any concern in Government that the emphasis should be on events linking the two parts of this island with Scotland, Wales and the English regions, and with smaller countries generally which suffered grievously in this senseless and crazy slaughter, such as, for example, Serbia, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria and other countries which were dragged into this holocaust through the gangster capitalist leadership of the big powers in the run-in to 1914? Does the Minister have concerns that, because of recent statements of the British Prime Minister, the Irish Government could be dragged into military commemorations which attempt to justify the militarism and gangsterism that produced the First World War? I note the Taoiseach has been in Ypres and commemorations are also planned for Mons and other battle sites.
We are following a timeline of events. To date, we have commemorated the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, the establishment of the Volunteers and a number of other events of that period. Our focus at the moment is very much on the commemoration of Cumann na mBan. That will happen in April and we have major events organised for that commemoration. My overall objective is to commemorate these events in a very respectful, inclusive and tolerant fashion, and that has been the tone of the commemorations to date, namely, that people are included in them.
Some 49,000 Irish men died in the First World War - it was mostly men who died, obviously - and given that others also died in the service of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and America, that number is probably even higher. We will have to ensure we can commemorate the shared history we have with Northern Ireland, the UK and Europe. That is the purpose of all this. We are working with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Glasnevin towards having some memorial in Glasnevin to commemorate that.
I thank the Minister for his answer. To have real meaning, the Government must take the lead in providing funding and a diary of events which communities can build upon. Events should not solely be in Dublin. I urge the Minister to think big and act local. We need big events that capture the imagination on an all-Ireland basis. I would also urge that we tie in with our colleagues in the Assembly. Does the Minister agree that we also need the local events that tap into local energy and allow local groups become central to remembering our collective history? These events should also allow people, who for many generations may have been divided, to come together and to work, remember and learn from our past.
I agree with Deputy McLellan. This is an ideal opportunity for people on this island to share our history as much as possible. Even recently, the united Unionist committee on commemorations organised an exhibition in Glasnevin on their position on Home Rule, which was very well received and very successful. It is that type of spirit of tolerance from the Republic that I believe will help to ensure all the events of commemoration during the decade of centenaries will be done in a very inclusive way.
With regard to local events, I completely agree with the Deputy. Obviously, there will be a major focus on 1916. There will have to be, as that is the seminal event in Irish history and where this House originated from. Therefore, we will have a major focus on what happened in 1916, which is why the money is now put aside for the exhibition centre in the GPO.
Thank you, Minister.
However, I agree with the Deputy that there will have to be events throughout the country, so we are providing for that. The money is put aside for Teach an Phiarsaigh in Connemara-----
I will let the Minister in again later.
On the remembrance of the individual men who died, we have known this information since 1923 and the digital archive was published recently. Are there any plans to have a digital archive of all the 203,000 who served?
I note that the first big British commemoration is based in Glasgow. Some interpret this as being a political device to use the commemoration of the First World War to destroy the movement towards Scottish independence. Again, is it not important there is not an attempt to drag our State and Government into a military-political commemoration which is really at the service of the current Tory and Whig leadership of the UK?
Has Deputy McLellan a supplementary question?
The Minister was just about to tell me something about Teach an Phiarsaigh. I would be interested if he could continue on that.
We must conclude shortly but the Minister may respond.
The money has been provided for Teach an Phiarsaigh, which is very important. In Leitrim, the OPW did an excellent job on Seán Mac Diarmada's house. There is an issue there with car parking, and it is to be hoped we can look after that. In Cloughjordan, the local community made a great effort and there is a very nice interpretative centre for Thomas MacDonagh. I have attended other events around the country. I was in Cork last weekend for a very good seminar. I want to recognise the work of UCC and what it is doing for the decade of commemorations, as are the other universities and high third level institutions.
In reply to Deputy Broughan, we are organising our own decade of commemorations in this country and, as I said, we are doing it in a very inclusive, respectful and tolerant way. We will not in any way be led by anybody else as regards how we are going to organise our commemorations. Where there are opportunities to commemorate our shared history, we will do that and we are doing that. However, we are going to do this in our own very independent way. To date, I think we have done it very well and we are going to continue along those lines. We will not at all be influenced by other commemorations but, where we can, we will certainly share. We will show proper respect to the people who died in 1916, the War of Independence and the Civil War, and also to those Irish people who went to fight for Ireland, as they thought, in the First World War. They fought for Ireland in the First World War and they fought for Ireland in the War of Independence.
