Sinn Féin proposal for 1916 annual bank holiday rejected

The Government has ruled out a potential vote-getting proposal from Sinn Féin to have an annual bank holiday on April 24th, the anniversary of the Easter Rising.

Sinn Féin social protection spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh introduced legislation for the creation of a national holiday to be called Lá na Poblachta, noting that Ireland has nine public holidays, fewer than the EU average of 11.

He told the Dáil that “many nations have a day or event in their history which, for the present day citizens, captures the spirit of the nation. In the many episodes of bravery, foresight and selflessness in Irish history, the 1916 Rising stands out, and is therefore the appropriate day to celebrate and commemorate as Ireland’s national day.”

In the Public Holidays (Lá na Poblachta) Bill, the national holiday “would fall annually on 24 April, the day on which the Irish Republic was declared”.

Mr Ó Snodaigh said the Government has shot down the proposal, “despite the fact that when I raised it, in February 2013, at the all-part decade of commemorations committee meetings, I received the backing of the Government’s commemorations advisers, albeit for a single year’s public holiday next year”.

He accused the Government of “turning its back on an opportunity” and said it was not just about an additional holiday. “It aims to ensure that the vision of the Proclamation is considered and lived up to as much as possible or is, at the very least, the ideal to which we aspire.”

The Bill also establishes a board to organise events to commemorate the contribution over the centuries “by many who gave their lives and liberties in pursuit of the Irish nation to free it from the occupation of a foreign power”.

However, rejecting the Bill Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the legislation would move the focus of the 1916 commemorations away from the Easter weekend to the end of April.

“This would seriously dilute the traditional Easter Rising commemorations and there is no demand for such a move,” he insisted, adding that there was no support to move the focus from Easter to April 24th.

‘Singular narrative’

Mr O Ríordáin said “next year will be a time for reflection, celebration and commemoration”.

He said the Bill sought to “distract from the Easter weekend commemoration. It seeks to provide an additional public holiday in perpetuity for which there is no public demand and to use a singular narrative which could undermine the respectful and inclusive approach to all commemorations on this island”.

But Fianna Fáil public expenditure and reform spokesman Seán Fleming said “most if not practically all Irish people, would agree with this proposal for the centenary year of 2016. The Bill goes further and provides for a bank holiday on 24 April on a permanent basis. The least we can do, as an initial step, is agree to the proposal for 2016, the centenary year.”

Mr Fleming said Ireland never gave in to the ideological extremes which caused so much tragedy in the 20th century. “We have one of the world’s oldest continuous democracies and our democratic, republican Constitution was the first of its kind ever adopted in a free referendum. These many factors provide a direct and positive link to the events of 1916.”

He said “1916 is not just about Fianna Fáil, it is about everybody. We played our part as did the other parties in the House. In the spirit of the centenary year, a special bank holiday to commemorate the actual date of the Rising is appropriate. The Irish people will support it.”

Sinn Féin's Michael Colreavy said "2016 is being regarded as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Remembering 1916, its heroes and their ideas should not be a once in a lifetime matter. Every year, we should reflect on those who founded our nation and sought to bring about a free, independent Ireland."

He said that “to relegate this to one year or one week of fanfare, colour, money and shiny buttons is not good enough. It is not about a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Sinn Féin’s Peadar Tóibín said “celebrating 1916 in a chronological fashion is logical. If the Minister of State sticks to his own dates, it will be the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, which changes every year, whereas commemorating it on the date that it actually happened makes sense.”