asked the Taoiseach if he will state whether the Government have any proposals for the celebration of the Michael Davitt Centenary; if it is the intention to record the nation's appreciation of Davitt's life's work; and, if so, if he will state what the proposals are.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Michael Davitt Centenary.
The Government have considered the question whether arrangements should be made for an official commemoration by the State of the centenary of the birth of Michael Davitt as well as that of Charles Stewart Parnell, which also occurs this year. They have come to the conclusion that it is better on the whole not to have such a State commemoration so close to the commemoration last year of Thomas Davis and the Young Ireland Movement, or to appear to be establishing a general practice. The view of the Government is that if we were to have a great many commemorations of this kind, we might run the risk of lessening the interest of the people generally and the public appreciation of the significance of such occasions.
I want to make it clear that the decision in no way implies any failure on the part of the Government to appreciate fully the place which Michael Davitt occupies in the history of the nation, or the debt of gratitude which is due to him for his devotion to the national cause and, in particular, for his outstanding contribution to the solution of the land problem.
I have noted from Press reports that, on the initiative of the Lord Mayor, the Dublin Corporation are taking steps to commemorate the centenary and that arrangements are also being made by groups in other parts of the country, particularly in Mayo, the county in which Michael Davitt was born and in which he held the historic meeting which led to the foundation of the Land League. The State will issue a special postage stamp which is a common method of commemorating distinguished figures and important events both here and in other countries.
Thanks for the Taoiseach's appreciation.