Micheál Martin
Question:485. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the State's preparations for the 1916 commemoration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2015/16]
View answerTuesday, 19 January 2016
Questions (485)
Written answers
The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, which was launched on 31 March 2015, includes a rich diversity of programmes and events, complementary and additional to the formal State occasions, which will run throughout 2016 to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. The programme is an invitation to everyone on the island of Ireland and to the global Irish community to shape and engage in a diverse range of historical, cultural and artistic activities – all designed to facilitate reflection, commemoration, celebration, debate and analysis and an active imagining of our future.
Officials from my Department have facilitated an intensive consultation period during 2015, including active engagement with schools, universities, colleges, business and voluntary organisations, arts and culture institutions, historical societies, local authorities and representative groups – at home and in our Diaspora around the world – to inform, to stimulate debate and discussion about 2016, and to foster programme initiatives. Work has been ongoing to implement a comprehensive programme and planning is well underway for the range of initiatives within the seven programme strands.
Among the key milestones achieved to date are the following:
- A programme of State ceremonial events, which represent the formal and solemn marking of 1916 by the citizens of Ireland as the seminal event that led to our independence, has been initiated. The first of these State ceremonial events took place on 1st January with a flag raising ceremony at Dublin Castle, which was attended by President Michael D. Higgins and An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D. This solemn commemoration was followed by the Ireland 2016 Peace Proms, which took place in partnership with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland and choirs representing all parts of the country. A significant number of State ceremonies are due to take place throughout 2016, particularly around Easter time, and plans for each of these events are progressing well.
- Over 84 public consultation meetings were held with local communities all around the country, with 31 individual county plans launched on 8th October 2015, comprising over 1,800 events nationwide. €1m was allocated to facilitate these plans last year, with a further €3m to be made available this year.
- An allocation of €22 million in capital funding was provided through my Department’s Vote in 2015 for the ‘Permanent Reminder’ projects, with a further €31m being allocated this year. These capital projects are progressing well.
- The Global and Diaspora Programme was launched on 29th June 2015 and was very positively received at home and abroad.
- On 6th August 2015, the Arts Council announced 9 major arts projects to commemorate 1916.
- The National Flag Initiative was launched on 14th September 2015, marking the commencement of the delivery by the Defence Forces of our National Flag and the Proclamation to over 3,300 national schools across the country. Some 3,000 flags have now been delivered and the project has been very well received by the schools and children involved.
- The Irish Language strand - An Teanga Bheo - was launched at the end of October 2015 by An Taoiseach.
- The Education Programme strand was launched on 22nd September 2015 for the primary, post-primary and third-level education sectors.
- Consultation is ongoing with relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including official, political, media, artistic and NGO stakeholders.
- The National Cultural Institutions are advancing a range of innovative exhibitions and projects.
- The official Culture Ireland programme “I am Ireland” was launched by Minister of State Ó Ríordáin on 3rd October 2015. This will showcase the best of Irish arts and culture on the international stage.
- On 10th November 2015, I announced that work was to start on the conservation and restoration of the National Monument in Moore Street, acquired by the State earlier in the year, which will facilitate its development as a new Commemorative Centre for the public.
- On 14 January, together with my colleague, Minister of State Ó Ríordáin, I chaired a workshop to explore the development of new proposals to ensure that 2016 will produce a legacy of gender inclusion befitting a republic founded on the values of equal citizenship. The workshop was attended by representatives of a broad cross section of society, including members of the arts, business and sports communities, media professionals and the charity and social care sectors.
Further information in relation to the various events, activities and initiatives taking place under each of 7 strands of the Programme, including the 31 county plans launched in October 2015, can be found on my Department’s dedicated website at www.ireland.ie.