Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
331. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her plans for the commemoration of the Civil War and particularly the remembrance of the republicans executed officially, unofficially or summarily in addition to those murdered by the Free State, the number which has never been officially collated. [20402/20]
View answer332. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her plans to issue a State apology for the republicans (details supplied) murdered by the Free State at Ballyseedy on 7 March 1923 when they were chained to a live landmine which was then detonated. [20403/20]
View answer333. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her plans to issue a State apology for all IRA volunteers, republicans and civilians executed by the Free State during the Civil War whether carried out officially, unofficially or summarily. [20404/20]
View answer334. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her plans to collate a full list of all IRA volunteers, republicans and civilians executed or killed by the Free State during the Civil War whether carried out officially, unofficially or summarily to be published. [20405/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 331 to 334, inclusive, together.
As we navigate through the most challenging and sensitive phase of the Decade of Centenaries, the Government's approach to commemorations will continue to be underpinned by the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations; and in consultation with the All Party Consultation Group on Commemorations, which I will reconvene shortly. The Expert Advisory Group has published three statements to date, which can be found on the Decade of Centenaries website (https://www.decadeofcentenaries.com/publications/). I would urge everyone who has an interest in the forthcoming period of commemorations to consult the principles and advice laid down in these publications.
One of the cornerstones of the State's commemorative programme for the coming years will be to continue to further reconciliation on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain.
I am committed to ensuring that the State's approach to the remembrance of the Civil War and all of those who lost their lives during those years, will be based on the respectful, sensitive, measured and authentic ethos that has become the hallmark of the Decade of Centenaries programme.
Historical accuracy, academic integrity and archival discovery will be key tenets as the Civil War commemorative programme develops – following closely the centenary timeline of the events that occurred during this period. It is important that our history is faithfully presented, even when the historical record is distressing. We must acknowledge the great tragedy of all of the lives that were lost or irrevocably altered during those divisive and traumatic years.
I welcome and encourage the continuing research of historians and custodians of records, who seek to increase our understanding of the historical events that occurred, which have so significantly shaped our modern world. The State’s Civil War commemorative programme will invite everyone to consider the painful legacies of our past and reach their own conclusions – the programme will not seek to communicate a preferred narrative or make judgements about any persons or actions. It is not appropriate for the State to retrospectively analyse these historical events through the lens of contemporary perspectives. This is best left to scholars trained in the discipline of history. The guidance of the Expert Advisory Group in this regard is clear –
“The State’s task is to encourage a reflective and a reconciliatory tone that recognises that neither side had the monopoly of either atrocity or virtue and this was true of words as well as actions”
