Sinn Fein has accused a Labour minister of misleading the Dáil saying he deliberately interfered to stop Sinn Féin running a 1916 event at the GPO.

The party says Alex White, the Communications Minister, is the only person who has the power to stop the General Post Office from being used for certain events.

Sinn Féin was planning a light show at the historic building during Easter Week next year, as part of its own events to mark the centenary of the Rising.

But Aengus Ó Snodaigh says Alex White is misleading the Dáil when he denies any responsibility:

Meanwhile, a row has broken out between Labour's Aodhán Ó Riordáin and Sinn Feín's Peadar Tóíbín on Twitter, also about the Rising commemoration.

.@Toibin1 I think as a pro-life Provo, you're as confused as ever.

— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (@AodhanORiordain) October 9, 2015

The reference to 'Southern Fried Chicken' comes from a recent disagreement between Ó Ríordáín and various Sinn Féin members after he publicly said he disagreed with chickens from Northern Ireland being labelled "Irish".

On that occasion, after coming under attack on social media he tweeted to say he had "resigned from the chicken debate", but Sinn Féin members continued to heckle him online.

Public holiday

Earlier in the Dáil the government continued to oppose calls for a special public holiday marking the centenary of The Rising.

Sinn Féin introduced legislation to the Dáil call for the April 24th holiday, a proposal that was supported by Fianna Fáil.

But junior minister for Arts and Culture Aodhán O'Riordáin says such a public holiday isn't going to be sanctioned by the coalition: