andMr. Stephen Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he is aware of the annual Michael Collins commemoration being held in Béal na mBláth on 25th of August this year; and if he will take steps to have the Government represented at this ceremony.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Collins Commemoration.
1.
: A special day, Easter Sunday, has been set apart on which the State celebrates the securing of Independence and honours all those who took part in the struggle to achieve it. This decision was taken in order to avoid the difficulties which would arise in selecting individual anniversaries in commemorating which the State might participate and the only variation of this decision is the annual State commemoration at Arbour Hill for those who died in 1916. In the circumstances, it is not intended that the Government will be represented at Béal na mBláth on 25th August next.
: Does the Taoiseach not agree that it is now time that there was a change of heart on the part of the Government towards this commemoration, in view of the fact that the President, after 46 years, attended the Mass for Michael Collins? Is it not time the Government followed this lead and example?
: I would have no objection at all to a course like that. In the first place, I think the Deputy will admit that the Béal na mBláth ceremonies are organised mainly by Fine Gael. Therefore, it is a political ceremony. But if, as happened on last Sunday, Béal na mBláth were organised on a non-political basis — last Sunday it was organised by the Old IRA Dublin Brigade; the President attended; I would have attended if I had been in Dublin—but if it were organised on that basis, then it would be another matter.
: I want to refute that this is organised by Fine Gael. At this commemoration there are thousands of people of all shades of political opinion and time and time again the Government have been condemned for their attitude to this commemoration of Michael Collins as first Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The same vindictiveness and bitterness is continuing.
: I can assure the Deputy that there is neither bitterness nor vindictiveness on my part or on the part of the Government. As the Deputy may recall, I, as a junior Minister, was a patron of and contributed to a fund set up to purchase a bust of Michael Collins that was on display in the precincts of this House and is now on permanent display in the municipal gallery in Cork. I have admiration for Michael Collins. I have had long and sincere friendship with many members of the Collins family. I can assure the Deputy that there is no bitterness whatever. I would suggest to the Deputy and to the members of his Party that I would be prepared to facilitate the setting up of an all-Party Committee to see how best we could commemorate all those who fell in the Civil War.
: Would it not be more appropriate, does not the Taoiseach agree, if we can send the Chief of Staff to RAF ceremonies in Belfast, to send the Chief of Staff to Béal na mBláth?
: The Chief of Staff was not sent to the ceremonies in Belfast. He was invited in his individual capacity and went in his individual capacity.
Mr. O'Leary
: He can go to Belfast and cannot go to Béal na mBláth.
: Other ceremonies of the nature of Béal na mBláth are organised through the year to commemorate other people who died in the Civil War. Members of the Government go there, not as representatives of the Government, but in their individual capacities.
: The Taoiseach will agree that the Army should have been represented there before now——
: I am calling Question No. 2.