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Commemorative Events

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Questions (87)

Micheál Martin

Question:

87. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to expand the national Famine commemoration; the plans he has to raise the profile of this event here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44498/13]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that, as Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring, on behalf of the Irish Government, that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. Details of the work of the National Famine Commemoration Committees since 2008 in implementing a varied and diverse annual programme of events to coincide with the commemorations are available on the relevant pages of my Department's website at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/NationalFamineCommemoration2013/ and on a dedicated website at www.irishfamine.ie.

The Deputy will, of course, be aware that the scale of the commemorative events held around National Famine Commemoration Day have been increasing on an annual basis, as has public awareness of these events and of the history of the Great Irish Famine. Such raising of public awareness has been advanced by my Department through its liaison with the print and broadcast media on these issues.

The Deputy will also be aware that the location of National Famine Commemoration Day rotates between the four provinces of Ireland and next year will take place in Connacht. In this regard, I have introduced a selection process to determine the location of the commemoration in 2014 and future years and, in line with this process, I have invited the County and City Councils in Connacht to submit expressions of interest and proposals setting out possible locations where the ceremony might be held, following consultation with local communities, interest groups and other stakeholders. The purpose of this approach is to generate greater awareness and interest in the annual National Famine Commemoration and to increase the number of potential sites available to choose from each year. The National Famine Commemoration Committee will meet over the coming weeks with a view to agreeing the 2014 Famine Commemoration Programme and finalising the location of the event in Ireland.

In line with previous years, an international event is also being planned to commemorate the Great Irish Famine and it is proposed that New Orleans will be the venue in 2014. I am confident that the 2014 national and international commemorative events will build on the events held in previous years and will continue to raise public awareness of the Great Irish Famine and of its impact on our history.

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