British leader may get 1916 centenary invite

THE possibility of the British prime minister taking part in events to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising is expected to be raised when the Taoiseach visits Downing Street today.

Enda Kenny will travel to London this afternoon for a meeting with David Cameron and sources expect the possibility of the prime minister or his successor taking part in the commemorations to “come up in the conversation” although it is not high on the agenda.

The Taoiseach is to contact all party leaders this week to set up an Oireachtas consultative group to devise a programme for the commemoration which he believes should be “broad and inclusive”.

The main focus of today’s meeting with Mr Cameron will be to show the solidarity of both governments against the threat from dissidents who recently claimed the life of PSNI officer Ronan Kerr.

The Taoiseach is also expected to raise the failure of the British government to release the intelligence files from the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974.

The group representing the families of the victims, Justice for the Forgotten, has asked Mr Kenny to demand the files ahead of the visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth, which coincides with the anniversary of the bombings.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the Taoiseach has “a responsibility to demand all information currently held by the British on what was the worst attack of its kind in 30 years of conflict”. He added: “The families have demanded the truth. The Taoiseach should defend and articulate their demand for truth.”

Mr Kenny is likely to raise the sensitive issue of British involvement in a number of commemorations between 2012 and 2016, including those marking 100 years since the Easter Rising.

Mr Kenny said he hopes to set up the committee on the 1916 commemoration before Easter and would like it to include members from outside the Oireachtas, including from the North.

“This is an issue which needs to be addressed sensitively in light of the broad range of views held about 1916 and various other issues,” Mr Kenny said.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said membership of the committee should include “strands of opinion” from North and South.

“It is important those commemorative opportunities become opportunities for fresh insights, perspectives and a deeper mutual understanding among people of different traditions on the island,” he said.