Even though I am not sure what relevance it has to our position in commemorating the Great Famine, I should point out that neither the Queen, Crown nor British Government is apologising to the Maoris. I have a note from the Deputy High Commissioner for New Zealand in London before me confirming that the relevant New Zealand Act of Parliament, which awaits the signature of the Crown, will restore some land to the Maoris and deals with this issue. The New Zealand Government is apologising to the Maoris, not the Crown or the British Administration. That is really an extraneous issue which I should place on the record.
Frankly, as a nation, I consider we have too much self-respect and dignity to demand an apology, or an expression of sympathy or regret; to do so would merely devalue the issue. The greatest way we can commemorate the lost generation of the Famine is not by proceeeding, as Deputy Ahern suggests, but rather to ensure that full reconciliation, between both traditions, is achieved within all parts of this island. After all, we are an independent, sovereign State.
Ironically, the great tragedy of the Famine has speeded up our separateness from Britain and our continued, firm commitment to self-determination. We have taken our place among the nations of the world, we sit around the European table, as full and equal members with the other 14 members states. I do not consider the dignity of this nation should be put into question by asking or demanding any such apology or expression of sympathy. The facts speak for themselves. We will commemorate the horrors of our Famine, remember the tragedy of those who died, and those who had to leave our shores, in a dignified manner. We will tell the story as it was without any sanitisation; the facts will speak for themselves.