Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 January 2016
509. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht why, in relation to invitations to attend State 1916 centenary events, she is making a distinction between relatives of those who were active in 1916 but who did not claim a statutory pension and the relatives of those who were active in 1916 but who did claim a statutory pension and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2833/16]
View answerI, together with my Government colleagues, am committed to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful.
Over the past year, I have met with a number of relatives, including representatives of relatives’ groups and individual relatives, to highlight the important role that they will have in the plans to commemorate the centenary of the events of Easter 1916. Relatives of participants in the Rising who were interested in attending any of the upcoming State ceremonial events were asked to register their details with the Department of Defence. Issues in relation to the compilation of this register are a matter for the Minister for Defence. However, I understand that a link to military service pensions was not the sole criterion for inclusion in the register.
Those who fought and those who died in the 1916 Easter Rising will be represented at each of the State events by their family members or next of kin living today to the greatest extent possible, within the constraints presented by the size and capacity of the venues and numbers of guests that each venue can accommodate.
