Leading figures in the Republic should take part in commemorations of the Battle of the Somme, according to the Fine Gael TD, Mr Paddy Harte. More people should be encouraged to visit the graves which Catholic Ireland has "avoided, if not forgotten".
"To continue to stay away and not give proper recognition is a blemish on our Christian teachings and beliefs and irreverent to the teenage dead of Ireland who gave their lives in defence of small nations to make our world a better and safer place to live."
Some 45,000 men from the Republic enlisted in the first World War.