Taoiseach: Royals are welcome at 1916 event

Enda Kenny said Queen Elizabeth II or another British royal family member will be welcome to attend the 1916 Easter Rising commemorations and that the event will help mark closer relations between Ireland and Britain.

Speaking ahead of President Michael D Higgins’ visit to Britain this week, Mr Kenny rejected suggestions the Government was not doing enough to further peace efforts in the North.

In an interview on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC, he said the visit was of huge importance.

“Symbolically it’s of enormous importance but also practically in that it brings the relationship between the two countries and the two peoples to an unprecedented level. This was unthinkable 20 years ago.”

Asked if he was expecting the Queen or a senior royal figure to attend commemorations in 2016, he said: “It should be possible for members of the royal family to visit Dublin during those centenary commemoration ceremonies in 2016. It would be another event in the continuing closeness and closer relationships between both our countries.”

But he rejected suggestions the Government had “dropped the ball” on the North or failed to address recent political concerns which had allowed a dangerous vacuum to flourish.

“No, I disagree with that completely, actually there are more meetings being held between ministers and officials and various agencies on either side of the border than ever before.

“We contribute very constructively to issues in Northern Ireland in terms of infrastructure, education, health, cross-border activities, these things are at an all-time high level and we want that to continue.

“We’ve got to move on and not be blocked by the past. When the Queen herself spoke in Dublin Castle, which was the symbolic head of the British empire in this country for several hundred years, she said of course, if you looked at history there are some things that you might do differently and some things that you might not do at all and her contribution in Dublin, three years ago closed a circle of history.

Speaking in advance of the visit, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said: “The very detailed and personal nature of this visit reflects the depth and substance of the relationship between our two countries. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the warm friendship which now exists across the Irish Sea and to recognise the substantial contribution made by the Irish community in the UK.

“From a trade perspective, it will also highlight our close economic links. The UK is our most important market, with trade of over €1bn worth of goods and services every week, and 200,000 people employed in Ireland as a result of exports to the UK. This visit will help to build on our close political, economic, people-to-people and cultural ties and forge even closer links to the benefit of all,” Mr Gilmore said.