I was both astonished and disgusted today by the proposal from Fine Gael and the Labour Party that they will rewrite the 1916 Proclamation. I have never heard its like before. Would one rewrite a document for which people died?

No one is proposing to rewrite it.

That is exactly what is proposed.

The Senator should check his facts.

Senator Thomas Byrne to continue, without interruption, please.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party have no authority. They have no ownership of 1916, which belongs to everybody in this country and it is about time they realise that. There appears to be some sort of shame, particularly within the Fine Gael Party, as well as large sections of the Labour Party, about the 1916 Rising. That was clearly evident-----

What is the Senator talking about?

It was clearly evident from the promotional video the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, released last year.

The 1916 Rising was hardly mentioned. There were pictures of the British royal family, but none of the signatories or people who had died.

There was not much in the document about the alliance with the Kaiser.

Does Senator Thomas Byrne have a question for Leader?

We should have a full debate on the 1916 Proclamation, how we are implementing it and realising the vision of those who gave their lives and those who subsequently created this democracy.

Let us have that debate.

How are we realising that vision? For the Fine Gael Party, the latest show of shame and embarrassment follows the iar-Thaoiseach, Mr. Bruton, calling for the firing squads to be remembered. It is ludicrous and ridiculous. It is about time Fine Gael took its hand off the Proclamation and gave it back to the people, with whom it belongs.

It is disgraceful.