Fergus O'Dowd
Question:42. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach his views on a day of commemoration for those that have lost their lives to Covid-19; and if there are plans within Departments to progress such proposals. [33712/21]
View answerWednesday, 23 June 2021
Questions (42)
Written answers
COVID-19 has brought grief and loss to our lives in ways that most of us have not experienced in our lifetime. In the Governments Covid-19 Residence and Recovery 2021 The Path Ahead we acknowledged that it will be important as a people that we pause and reflect, take time to remember and pay tribute both to those who have lost their lives but also to everyone who has contributed to how we have faced and are facing the challenges together.
The plan also recognises that it would be important to capture those very different experiences and to figure out what we have learned about ourselves as a society. The National Library of Ireland captures the lived experience of Ireland as it happens so it can then be shared with the world. A major focus of the National Library’s collection in 2020/2021 has been around COVID-19.
A programme of national and local events will be developed to commemorate those we have lost, to celebrate all those who have helped us survive and endure, and ensure there is support from all those who feel alone or lost. It is not possible with the current restrictions to organise an appropriate national commemoration. When the time is right, there will be an opportunity for us nationally to remember those who died during this difficult time. The Protocol and Civic Policy Division in my Department are working with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on the format for a national commemoration, which is still under consideration.