State rules should be imposed to stop the "inappropriate" commercialisation of next year's Easter Rising anniversary, a Fianna Fáil general election candidate in Wexford, Malcolm Byrne has urged.
The Rising should not be exploited for private profit, said Mr Byrne, adding that "baseball caps, hoodies and even chocolate bars" had recently been sold with 1916 images.
“We should at least try to ensure that the material the public is offered respects the personal sacrifice and nature of what we’re celebrating.”
Licences should be issued by the Centenary Expert Advisory Group, he said. Respectful products would not be charged, but improper use would attract a fine – but the money would go to charity.