Ahern unveils plans for 1916 celebration

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night played the republican card and moved to reclaim the spirit of the 1916 uprising from extremists as he announced plans for a major national celebration to mark its 90th anniversary next year.

In his opening address to the Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis in Killarney, Mr Ahern unveiled details of the first large scale commemoration parade of the rebellion to involve the Defence Forces in 40 years. The Taoiseach insisted the initiative was needed to recognise the sacrifices of Ireland’s “greatest generation” and retrieve their achievements from those who “denigrate” their memory.

“Our Defence Forces - the only legitimate army of the Irish people - will parade to commemorate this historic event and their proud contribution in the service of the State and the UN.

“We in this state will proclaim our republicanism. We will recognise and praise the vision of the Volunteers of 1916 and indeed the War of Independence.

“We will show that our Defence Forces are the true successors of the volunteers. The Irish people need to reclaim the spirit of 1916, which is not the property of those who have abused and debased the title of republicanism.

“I want next Easter to be an expression of our pride as a nation. We want to commemorate the greatest generation we have ever produced,” the Taoiseach added. The last major landmark commemoration of the uprising came on its fiftieth anniversary in 1966, but the event was played down after the eruption of sectarian violence in the North three years later.

A token military element was included in a small scale commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the rebellion in 1991. Mr Ahern said a top level committee was being set up to devise plans for the centenary celebrations in 2016.

The move was clearly intended to amplify Fianna Fáil’s “green credentials” as it faces a strong challenge from Sinn Féin in a number of key constituencies across the Republic.

Welcoming delegates to Fianna Fáil’s 69th Ard Fheis, Mr Ahern put the party activists onto an election war footing as he launched attacks on Fine Gael and Labour for failing to unveil their tax policies.

The Taoiseach branded the Rainbow alternative a high tax option that would do down Ireland’s strong economy.

“It is not only tax on personal income that has been cut, so too has tax on business. It is simply wrong to say, as others do, that increased tax rates will always increase the tax yield. That model has been tried and failed in Ireland.

“On tax, the people know where I stand. They know where Fianna Fáil stands. They are now entitled to be told truthfully where others stand too,” he said.