Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's plans for Northern Ireland Assembly members to attend 1916 Easter Rising and Battle of the Somme commemorations were rejected yesterday by Ulster Unionists.
The Government confirmed plans last week to invite Assembly members to a military ceremony at the GPO in Dublin to mark the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
They will also be asked to attend a 90th anniversary ceremony at the Islandbridge War Memorial in Dublin in July for the thousands of soldiers killed in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
Speaking after a meeting of his party's Assembly members, Ulster Unionist parades spokesman Michael Copeland said that while they welcomed the Government's plans to commemorate the Somme, they viewed the 1916 Easter Rising as an act of terrorism.
"It is up to people of the Republic to celebrate their own past in whatever way they think appropriate. We have no problem with that, but their version of history would not be our version of history," he told The Irish Times.
However, Mr Copeland had been under the impression that the Government intended to commemorate both events at the one time, rather than separately.
"The Easter insurgency which took place during the Great War led to the death of approximately 30 rebels, 200 British servicemen and over 200 innocent Dublin citizens," the East Belfast Assembly member said.
"It took place at a time when 300,000 Irishmen of all religions were serving as volunteers in the British army, 50,000 of whom gave their lives.
"It brought an end to the honourable tradition of constitutional Irish nationalism and brought to the fore the blood sacrifice ethos of armed republicanism which led directly to the partition of this island and the Irish Civil War."
Mr Copeland said the UUP fully respected the right of people in the Republic to commemorate events in their history in whatever way they deemed appropriate.
He added: "We also recognise the very great steps being taken to honour the memory of the true heroes of 1916 (those serving in the 36th (Ulster), 16th (Irish), 10th (Irish) and other Commonwealth and empire forces.
"We regret that on this occasion we must decline Mr Ahern's invitation.
"This Easter I will be calling to mind the death of my great uncle who fell at Gallipoli whilst serving with the royal Dublin fusiliers and my wife's grandfather who fought alongside all three Irish divisions."
When it was pointed out that the Government intended to commemorate the Somme anniversary separately at the War Memorial in Islandbridge in July, Mr Copeland said unionists were unlikely to be free to travel because they would be attending commemorations throughout Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, unionists have also criticised plans by Derry City Council to mark the 1916 Rising. After the council approved plans for a commemoration, Willie Hay of the DUP said unionists could not participate in any ceremony.
