The President has rejected the idea that celebrating the centenary of the Easter Rising could cause unrest.
A series of State ceremonial events will get underway in Dublin from today to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 rising.
Over 3,700 members of the defence forces and emergency services will take part in this year's Easter Sunday centenary parade.
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Michael D Higgins says today's ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance is an important moment for victims' families: