Terence Flanagan
Question:21. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update regarding his Department's role in the 1916 commemorations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34260/15]
View answerThursday, 8 October 2015
Questions (21)
Written answers
Whilst responsibility for the Decade of Centenaries Programme rests with my colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, both my Department and the Defence Forces will nevertheless play a significant role in many of the events planned for 2016. My Department is currently working very closely with the Ireland 2016 Project Office in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and with officials in the Department of the Taoiseach, in relation to planning for appropriate levels of involvement by the Defence Forces in many of the events that are planned for the year ahead as part of the State Centenary Programme.
There are two existing 1916 commemoration events which have significant Department of Defence and Defence Forces involvement annually. These are the 1916 Commemoration ceremonies that take place at the GPO every Easter Sunday and at Arbour Hill in early May each year. The Commemoration at the GPO on Easter Sunday 2016 will be followed by a parade with significant Defence Forces input, and planning is now underway for this very significant element of the State Commemoration Programme.
In 2016, the Arbour Hill 1916 Commemoration will be held on Sunday 24 April, the centenary day of the 1916 Rising. The Commemoration will take the form of Requiem Mass for all those who died in the 1916 Rising and will be followed by a graveside ceremony, including inter-faith prayers, in the adjoining cemetery where 14 of the leaders of the Rising are buried.
My Department is also the lead Government Department for organising events to mark the execution of 15 of the leaders of the 1916 Rising and, in this regard, events are being planned for both Kilmainham Gaol and Cork on dates between the 3rd and the 12th of May next.
In addition to this, my Department is also acting as custodian of the register of relatives of those who participated in the Easter Rising.
There are a number of other events with significant Department of Defence involvement, such as a comprehensive programme of events relating to the National Flag including flag raising ceremonies in Dublin and elsewhere, and the presentation by members of the Defence Forces of the National Flag to all of the Primary schools in the State. This element of the Programme has already commenced and will continue up until March 2016.
Other events that my Department is involved in include preparations for wreath laying ceremonies at Glasnevin cemetery on Easter Sunday, and in various locations on Easter Monday 2016.
Finally, my Department and the Defence Forces will also be arranging for the official opening of the refurbished and extended Military Archives Building at Cathal Brugha Barracks scheduled for April 2016.
Overall, it is clear that my Department and the Defence Forces will play a very central and important role in many of the historic Commemoration events that will take place during 2016.