Mr Tony Blair could help advance Irish-British understanding if, during his forthcoming visit to Dublin, he apologised for the British record in ruling Ireland, said Mr Labhras O Murchu (FF).
Joining tributes to Irish soldiers who died in the first World War, he said he was disturbed that some commentators were reading a broader political significance into the Flanders commemoration and associated developments than was warranted.
He said: "It would be wrong to use such an important occasion in our own and world history, a sign of our maturity and of a world fraternity, as an instrument of revisionism."
We must be fair to our own tradition to ensure a balance on which we could build a more positive approach to our neighbour, Britain. "We have to accept that during the Great War, which we might see in different ways but which we all agree was a most brutal episode in world history, the British administration were executing our nationalist leaders. They endeavoured to put down the aspirations of a small nation to independence during that war."
Mr O Murchu said he was not saying this to detract from the motives of what was happening now. It was part of a bigger picture related to the British-Irish agreement. It was not possible to achieve a solution to the historical problems in Ireland, which had caused so much tragedy for so long, without an exceptionally broad landscape.
"Each and every one of us has something to contribute to that landscape. Nothing would please me more than if when the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair - for whom I have a great admiration because of his role in the [Belfast] agreement - was to apologise when he addresses the Houses of the Oireachtas in the same way the British administration has apologised in so many other countries . . . " Senators were marking the anniversary of the end of the first World War at the suggestion of the Fine Gael House leader, Mr Maurice Manning.
House deputy leader Mr John Dardis (PD) repeated his regret that Army bandsmen were unable to participate earlier this week in the Menin Gate ceremony where the first World War dead had been remembered at sunset continuously since 1928.
Mr Shane Ross (Ind) said the unveiling of the monument at Messines pointed the way forward. He hoped that we would soon see the sacrifices of the second World War commemorated in the same way.
Mr Ross said he wanted to pay particular tribute to the President, Mrs McAleese, because she came from a strong nationalist background and it was perhaps more difficult for her to appear so early in her term of office with Queen Elizabeth to commemorate the Irish dead.