Ireland's first minister for finance, Michael Collins, would have been satisfied with this year's budget, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney declared yesterday as he officially opened an event to mark Collins's birthday and Cork Independence Day.

Mr Coveney said Michael Collins was “a pragmatist”, and he believed Collins would have been proud of the efforts made by this Government to take hard decisions and get the country back on track economically.

Speaking at Collins Barracks in Cork, where he officially opened an exhibition of military equipment including the " Sliabh na mBan" armoured car which was present when Collins was killed at Béal na Bláth, Mr Coveney said Cork was right to commemorate Collins during Cork Rebel Week.

“Michael Collins is probably Cork’s most famous son and he made a huge contribution to Irish independence, and of course made the ultimate sacrifice for that, so it’s great to be celebrating his birthday right in the middle of Cork Rebel Week,” he told Cork’s 96FM.

Collins was born at Sam’s Cross near Clonakilty in West Cork on October 16th, 1890, and his birthday was yesterday declared Cork Independence Day as part of Cork Rebel Week, which is Cork’s contribution to the Gathering.

Among the other events was a Michael Collins Tour and a Cork Independence Day Parade in Clonakilty, culminating in a re-enactment outside O’Donovan’s Hotel in the town of a speech given by Collins during a visit to his home town.

Cork Rebel Week continues this week with an International Naval Festival in Cork Harbour, including a Naval Fleet Review involving ships from Belgium, Britain, France and Russia as well as ships from the Irish Naval Service tomorrow morning.

Minister of Defence Alan Shatter will take in the fleet review on board LE Eithne and will take a salute from each of the ships before the ships proceed to the city quays, which will be accessible to the public for the remainder of the festival over the weekend.