The Tánaiste says no party will be allowed to claim ownership of the 1916 Rising.

Joan Burton says the spirit of the rising belongs to the entire country and not to any individual group.

Speaking as the government unveiled a major programme to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 rising, Ms Burton said the whole idea of a republic is that no group or political party can claim ownership of the rising.

“The Republic, republicanism, does not belong to any one group, to any one set of people or to any one political party. It would be much diminished if it did. We are all of us equally entitled to call ourselves republican.”

Primary school pupils will be asked to rewrite the Proclamation of Independence to mark the 1916 centenary.

But the government says it will not be officially rewriting the proclamation for its 100-year anniversary – as the Taoiseach earlier today said they would.

A major programme to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising was unveiled this evening.

Arts minister Heather Humphreys said schools will have a major role

“We will deliver a flag and proclamation to every school in the country, and all of this will culminate on Proclamation,” she said.

“Every school in the country will raise the national flag, read the proclamation and showcase their work to parents and community,” she added.