Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2014
173. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a detailed timetable will be published by her Department outlining the events to celebrate the centenary of the 1916 Rising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44651/14]
View answer174. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of times the advisory group on centenary commemorations has met; the number of times she has met this group; if recommendations have yet been published with regard to the centenary of the 1916 Rising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44652/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.
The Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations, chaired by Dr. Maurice Manning, has met on 6 occasions to date in 2014. It has also held 2 public consultation meetings in Thurles and Dublin. I met with the group on 12 November last, when I conveyed to it the contents of the outline 2016 Commemoration programme.
The outline programme includes a series of commemorative events in Arbour Hill on Easter Saturday, and in Kilmainham Gaol and O'Connell Street on Easter Sunday. A commemorative event will also be held in Arbour Hill on Sunday 24 April 2016.
A widespread public consultation process is due to commence shortly, in order to encourage and facilitate the involvement of ground-up initiatives in the wider commemorative programme. I will be presenting the ideas and recommendations arising from this process to the Group for their advice in due course.
