Agenda and minutes

ORDER: Agreed.

ORDER: Noted.

ORDER: Presentation noted.

ORDER: Presentation noted.

ORDER: Presentation noted.  Copy of presentation to be circulated to the Members.

ORDER: Reports noted.

ORDER: Reports noted.

ORDER:  Item deferred until January.

ORDER: Agreed.

ORDER: Agreed.

ORDER: Agreed.

Motion in the name of Councillor Nial Ring

That this Committee instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Glasnevin Trust and ask if it their intention to include further names on the so called 1916 Memorial Wall in Glasnevin Cemetery and, if so, to detail what names are being considered for inclusion, and if public consultation will take place on any proposed addition of names.

ORDER: Agreed. Letter to be sent to the Glasnevin Trust.

Motion in the name of Councillor Nial Ring

That this Committee supports the submission made by me to the Seanad Public Consultation Committee in respect of its public consultation on the Status, Treatment and Use of the National Anthem. The main points made in the submission are as follows:

"http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=6600&d=0Y-c2i6VUIiqI4lAMs_Vu7nDkEvxCvOD94rnd5cygA&s=342&u=http%3a%2f%2f1%2eIn my opinion, there should be no changes made to either Irish or English version. I have read and heard of proposals to change wording to lessen the militaristic tone of the Anthem but, in deference to those who wrote and translated the Anthem, we should not interfere with their work.

Also, some people have quite mistakenly assumed that the first line of the chorus “Sine Fianna Fáil…” was written after the foundation of the Fianna Fáil political party in 1926 and that somehow the name of the fledgling party could have influenced his translation work. This is absolutely untrue as my Granduncle first worked on the translation in 1916 and completed his work before 1923, well before the foundation of Fianna Fáil.

1.The foregoing statement is not just based on family knowledge and lore (a daughter of Liam is still alive and well). Historian Ruth Sherry, in her article entitled “The Story of the National Anthem”, published in History Ireland (Issue 1, Spring 1996) states that Liam Ó Rinn’s translation was published in the army magazine, An tÓglach, on 3rd November 1923. More persuasive and significant is the fact that an almost identical text was printed in the Freeman’s Journal on 3rd April 1923, under Ó Rinn's pen name "Coinneach".

2. The Government should issue guidelines on the use of the National Anthem. This, I believe, should be on the lines of the guidelines issues in relation to the National Flag. The guidelines should also include reference to standing at attention (and how to do so) when the National Anthem is being played. It is galling to observe sportsmen and sportswomen standing “at ease” or with arms around each other whilst the Anthem is being played. Simple guidelines on this would give the Anthem the due respect it deserves.

3. I would support the National Anthem being enshrined officially in legislation in the Irish language.

4. I would ask that the Committee strongly consider recommending that the National Anthem be made a compulsory part of the education curriculum and enshrined in legislation to ensure its implementation.

5. I would submit that the guidelines, if agreed and published, should be in booklet format and distributed to every household  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.