Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 February 2017
364. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the National Famine Commemoration Committee will next meet; if the issue of a set annual date for the Famine commemoration will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5481/17]
View answerAt the most recent meeting of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, it was agreed that a sub-group would be established to consider proposals for the 2017 commemoration and that a date for the next meeting of the Committee would be set when the sub-group had completed its work. That work is ongoing with the assistance of the secretariat and a meeting of the full committee will be arranged upon its completion.
Future arrangements for the holding of commemorative events will be among the matters to be addressed by the Committee during 2017. In that regard, a Private Member’s Bill, which aims to provide for a fixed date for the annual commemoration of the Great Famine, is due to get a second stage reading on Thursday 9th February 2017.
