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Enda Kenny speaking to the media at the Mansion House in London this morning Hugh O'Connell/TheJournal.ie

Taoiseach: I would like to see the Queen visit Ireland for 1916 Rising commemorations

Meanwhile, the British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said that commemorating all events from the period around 1916 needs to be considered by both governments.

Updated 2.40pm 

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has said that he would like to see Queen Elizabeth visit Ireland in 2016 as part of the events surrounding the commemoration of the 1916 Rising.

Speaking to the media after a business breakfast in London this morning, Kenny said that the government had made it clear “some time ago” that it intended to invite members of the Royal family to some events in two years time.

He said he was pleased to hear the Queen herself speak about the possibility during last night’s historic State banquet at Windsor Castle.

“I was actually pleased to hear the Queen herself speak last night that members of her family and her government would stand side-by-side with representatives from Ireland at appropriate commemoration ceremonies,” he said.

Asked if he would like to see the Queen return to Ireland in 2016, he responded: “Yes, I would like to see it, but obviously there is a protocol attached to this.

McGuinness

He said that Irish people have become “very much enthused and interested” in pageantry and ceremonies attached to State visits such as the one taking place this week.

Kenny said that working out the participation of Royals in any events would have to take into account the different perspectives people have on the past.

Asked about the criticism in some sections of the British media of Martin McGuinness’s attendance at the banquet last night, Kenny said that the Sinn Féin MLA should have attended the State banquet in Dublin Castle in 2011.

He also pressed home that it was up to leaders in the North to sort out their differences in the interests of the peace process.

“What I tried to say here, which I think was endorsed by the Queen and President last evening, was that you cannot have a block of politics anchored to the past which does not allow for the next generation to move ahead,” he said.

He added that the past “should not strangle the opportunity for the future”.

Gilmore and Hague

Speaking at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London this afternoon, the Tánaiste said that an invitation to the Queen and other members of the Royal family was something that has been discussed for a long time and would be considered by the government.

“I was very pleased to hear what Her Majesty had to say last night. The idea of perhaps members of the Royal family participating in the 1916 events is something that we have talked about before,” he said

For his part, the Foreign Secretary William Hague said that it was important to commemorate the events together.

He said commemorating “all the events from that period” including the Rising needs to be considered by both governments.

Read: Here’s everything that’s happened so far on Michael D’s historic State visit to the UK

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135 Comments
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    Mute Daniel Morrissey
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:10 PM

    Can someone put sanctions on Brazil for this?

    Our government want to cut our national herd to support this massacre of forestation

    305
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    Mute John Black
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:15 PM

    @Daniel Morrissey: we’re one of the least forested countries worldwide so we’re not ones to be pointing fingers

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:31 PM

    @Daniel Morrissey: just texted eamonn Daniel still hasn’t got back to me. Good chance him asleep.

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    Mute john smith iv
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:35 PM

    @John Black: that’s going back hundreds of years.

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:37 PM

    @John Black: You do realise that it wasn’t the Irish that destroyed our own forests. There were huge areas of forestry in Ireland about the time Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland. As a reward many of his soldiers where given large amounts of lands and created large estates. Native timber was harvested for massive profits.

    If you ever passed Lismore Castle in Waterford you will of stopped and admired its beauty. What’s not known is that Lismore is in the Blackwater Valley and it used to be one of Irelands largest forests. It was cut down and sold for profit. Destroyed by an English landlord so he could build himself a great house. We are lucky we live in a republic as most of rivers and forests and owned by the people of Ireland. For example in the North Lough Neagh is owned by the Earl of Shaftesbury. The largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland is owned by a British Earl. Many of the forests in the UK are privately owned.

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    Mute John Black
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:12 PM

    @john smith iv: and we should be replanting them

    34
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    Mute John Black
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:14 PM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: I do realise this, and it’s not an excuse to be pointing fingers at other countries when we are not actively trying to increase our forested area (and those damaging coniferous forests are as bad as having no forest)

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:41 PM

    @John Black: Its not an excuse! The govt have never promoted native forestry in Ireland. Don’t blame the people blame those in power. Have you seen the current licensing system. There are 4000 in the backlog and farmers have to wait years to get permission to plant trees including native tress.

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    Mute JMcB
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:52 PM

    @John Black: the English had a hand in that. Rule britania needed wood for their ships and ours was handy for them

    29
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    Mute P Mc G
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    Nov 13th 2021, 7:30 AM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: *will have. ‘will of’ is nonsensical grammar.

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    Mute wormtubes
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    Nov 13th 2021, 9:19 AM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: coillte are actively growing native forests.

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    Mute TrollsRrealpeople2
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    Nov 13th 2021, 10:22 AM

    @P Mc G: Thanks for point that out. Helps everyone understand his point better. Ffs

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    Mute EillieEs
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    Nov 13th 2021, 10:56 AM

    @Daniel Morrissey: why are animals owned by individual farmers referred to as the ‘national herd’? Farming is the only industry where this kind of language is used, making it sound like we all somehow benefit from the destruction of the rainforest to feed animals reared in Ireland to be exported abroad. ‘National’ suggests public ownership as in the national broadcaster, the national grid, Aer Lingus was known as the national airline before it was sold off so why do you use the term national when the cattle aren’t owned by the public?

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    Mute Billy Davies
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:08 PM

    And EU considering signing the mercusor deal with Brazil and South America. That deal needs to be thrown in the recycling bin.

    125
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    Mute To Mt
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    Nov 12th 2021, 9:44 PM

    And yet a length of 2×1 is still 3 times the price it was a year ago

    117
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    Mute John Murphy
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    Nov 12th 2021, 9:52 PM

    @To Mt: it looks like they aren’t even harvesting the wood. They are just letting it burn so it can be farmed for a few years before it goes barren.

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    Mute To Mt
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    Nov 12th 2021, 9:58 PM

    @John Murphy: I just say its hyper inflation. Not a lot of people see the bubble and its gonna be bigger this time. I really hope I’m wrong though.

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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:03 PM

    @John Murphy: It’s the hipsters and their avocados.

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    Mute
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:28 PM

    @John Murphy: in some parts of the Amazon they use tractors with massive chains and drag the ground clean into a heap then use the sterile land to grow oil palm which is found in lots of products from butter to Nutella. They also grow sorghum which is shipped around the world to feed animals and for human consumption.

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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Nov 12th 2021, 9:57 PM

    I just can’t comprehend the size of that rainforest, I remember in school 30 years ago they were talking about the destruction in the Amazon.

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    Mute Joe Moynihan
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:08 PM

    Should we tell the big noises in Glasgow

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    Mute Damo
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    Nov 12th 2021, 10:32 PM

    Not to worry.
    All those deflated tyres on SUV’s in Glasgow will make up for this in jig time…

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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Nov 13th 2021, 3:20 AM

    Bolsonaro’s argument’s basically been like this: you lot in Europe & the US can’t tell us what to do since you deforested your own lands for development and we have that right too.

    That’s always fascinated me since superficially he does have a point. It’s just that we’ve all done so much of that, that their bit is now one of the last bits on the planet.

    Thankfully he’s facing an election next year and his polling numbers aren’t very good atm.

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    Mute Michael Dowling
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    Nov 13th 2021, 8:29 AM

    Simple solution tax the Irish. Seems to be the way forward. Greens policy.

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Nov 12th 2021, 11:22 PM

    Will yez all just belt up. Do yez not know that the whole problem is caused by Irish cows farting?

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    Mute Michael Creagh
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    Nov 13th 2021, 9:41 AM

    It’s ok,cop26 is all over it.

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    Mute patrick malone
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    Nov 13th 2021, 2:36 PM

    I think it’s plain and simple cop on

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