O'Dea defends 1916 Rising announcement

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea dismissed a claim that the Fianna Fáil Ardfheis was an inappropriate forum in which to announce the Government's planned Easter Rising commemoration.

Mr O'Dea said it was as good a platform as any to make the announcement.

"Frankly, I was surprised at the publicity generated by the fact that it was announced at the ardfheis because this matter has been under discussion since last July," he added.

"I remember specifically speaking to the chief of staff and various people in the Department of Defence to get the matter under way.

"Obviously, there is quite a number of Army officers who knew or heard about it prior to the Taoiseach's official announcement and I am amazed that it did not leak out into the public domain," Mr O'Dea said.

"I thought I had seen it mentioned on some publication or other. Maybe I am mistaken."

The Minister was replying to Fine Gael spokesman Billy Timmins who said concerns had been expressed in some quarters that the Taoiseach, in making the announcement at the ardfheis, might not have chosen the most appropriate place to announce it.

"Perhaps he should have undertaken all-party discussions on it," said Mr Timmins. "Perhaps it is not the type of issue that should be publicised."

Mr Timmins said he would be supportive of the concept of recognising what the 1916 people did and he would welcome the re-establishment of a military parade.

Mr O'Dea said that no final decision had been taken on whether there would be one parade or a number around the State.

It was more than likely that there would be more than one parade.

Planning was at an early stage and the Government would welcome ideas from all sources.

The Minister said that the theme of the restored traditional military parade would be "a celebration of Óglaigh na hÉireann, successors to the volunteers serving a democratic State engaged, through the UN, in the search for global peace".

He said the Defence Forces had staged a highly successful parade through Dublin city in 2001 to mark the return of the last Irish contingent to serve Lebanon and the experiences from that parade would serve as a basis for the organisation of the Easter parade.

"The involvement of organisations representing former members of the Defence Forces is also being considered," Mr O'Dea added.

Asked by Mr Timmins if there were proposals to erect some sort of monument outside the GPO, Mr O'Dea said he was not aware of them.