Rising tempers as Easter tops agenda

A FIANNA Fail call for the restoration of the traditional commemoration of the 1916 Rising led to heated exchanges with the Taoiseach. Amid uproar, Mr Bruton was asked if he was a relative of the man who had helped convict Joseph Plunkett, signatory to the Proclamation.

To mark the Rising's 80th anniversary, Mr Bruton said he would lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance and host a State reception for the relatives of its leaders, surviving veterans and their families.

As Fianna Fail continued to press for the traditional commemoration, suspended with the outbreak of the Northern troubles, Mr Seamus Brennan (FE, Dublin South) urged the Taoiseach to "stop apologising for the nation's history". Mr Bruton denied his attitude was one of "doffing the hat".

Mr Bruton said: "This country is secure enough in its own traditions, strong enough in its own convictions, that it can afford to be inclusive. We do not need to constantly reassure ourselves about the past verities or reinforce past prejudices, or reassure ourselves that one view is exclusively right about Irish history and another view exclusively wrong," he said. "That approach, to my mind, is not consistent with achieving the necessary reconciliation so that we underpin peace on this island."

Urging the Taoiseach to designate a day at Easter to commemorate 1916, Mr Ned O'Keeffe (FF, Cork East) said the Sunday Times, of May 21st, had referred to Sgt John Bruton of the Dublin Metropol it an Police who gave evidence against Joseph Plunkett to secure hfs convection. "Was he a relation or was he not?"

Personalities should not be introduced into the debate, warned the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Sean Treacy.

Mr Bruton replied: "Deputy Ned O'Keeffe's intervention says all that needs to be said about his party ... When Deputy Ned O'Keeffe spoke, the mask slipped."

Mr Michael McDowell (PD Dublin South East) said: "In future could this House move a bit forward and at least get to Civil War politics instead of the 1916 variety?"

Earlier, the Fianna, Fail leader Mr Bertie Ahern, said the State should go back to honouring annually the endeavours of the men and women of 1916. We should honour the true founders of the State. We should honour their courage," he added.

The Taoiseach said the 1916 leaders were honoured annually at Arbour Hill, said Mr Bruton. There was also a national day of commemoration, which had been introduced in the 1980s with the co operation and agreement of all parties, to honour all Irish people who died in wars, whether at home or abroad.

In 1991, there had been a special commemoration to mark the 75th anniversary because it was normal to do something extra on a 50th, 75th and 100th anniversary It was not normal to do something extra on an 80th anniversary but he was taking a personal initiative to commemorate it over and above the Arbour Hill ceremony.

Mr Ahern said he was glad of the Taoiseach's initiative because in other countries such events were celebrated every year. A commemoration held every Easter Sunday, he said, had been cancelled in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Now that the difficulties which had led to the decision were removed, the Taoiseach should arrange to celebrate the State's founders.

"I know that there are arguments by revisionists and others, but the actions of these people were retrospectively endorsed by the overwhelming wishes of the people in 1918 which led to the new State. It seems to me to be an appropriate time to restate and commemorate it on an annual basis," he added.

Mr Bruton said he had not given a lot of thought to the more general point that Mr Ahern was making. He thought it important to recognise that in any such commemoration they must seek to include all the traditions which contributed and continued to contribute to the life of the entire island.

"There is always the risk that by adopting one particular view one can exclude those who hold a different view about history. While history can often be very instructive and inclusive and reassuring, it can also be divisive and triumphalist if presented in a different way," he added. He would be happy to look at Mr Ahern's proposals.

While admiring a sense of inclusiveness, Fianna Fail deputy leader Ms Mary O'Rourke said it should never overlay a special sense of pride for an event such as 1916 and the heroism of the men and women.

There was a special commemoration in Arbour Hill every year because of the significance of 1916, Mr Bruton reiterated. That was also why he was having an extra commemoration this year on the 80th anniversary. "I don't frankly understand the ultimate purpose of the deputy's question or the distinction she is trying to draw," he added.

It was Mr Bruton who had drawn the distinction, said Ms O'Rourke, and who wished to regard all such historical matters with a sense of inclusion. That was admirable but history was not to be revised. Fianna Fail was saying there was a need to recognise the women and men of 1916.

There had been a definite sense of purpose in the commemoration of the Rising until events intervened. "I think in the climate of peace which is now, thankfully, in this country we could clearly and openly again commend and commemorate in a proper fashion the heroism of that period," she added.

There was a definite sense of purpose in the Arbour Hill commemoration, said the Taoiseach, and there would be a definite sense of purpose when he laid a wreath in the Garden of Remembrance and held a State reception.

They were trying to build peace in the island which derived from respect for the differences which existed about its history, he added.

Mr Ahern said there was only one true founder of the State. His party was saying that the commemoration, suspended after 50 years or so, should be revived. If somebody wanted to commemorate July 12th on the streets of Dublin at some time in the future, he had no difficulty with it.