Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
207. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department will ensure that the exclusion of persons from the National Famine Commemoration Day will not reoccur. [27828/22]
View answer208. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason that her Department gave 24 days' notice for the National Famine Commemoration Day 2022 for Irish persons residing at home and abroad (details supplied). [27829/22]
View answer209. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the best way that her Department can ensure a respectful, publicly inclusive National Famine Commemoration Day in 2023. [27830/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 208 and 209 together.
I refer the Deputy to my replies to Parliamentary Question No 301 of 10th May and Parliamentary Question No 164 of 4th May, in which I set out the out the position in relation to the arrangements in relation to the preparations for the National Famine Commemoration which was held at the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon on Sunday, 15th May.
The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin T.D., led the ceremony which was hosted on my behalf by Minister of State Jack Chambers T.D.
As in 2020 and 2021 the ceremony, which was broadcast live on the RTÉ News channel, on the day, was open to invited guests only. Numbers attending were higher than in 2020 and 2021.
However, it was decided not to have a public event when the decision on the venue was made. This was when COVID-19 restrictions were still in place.
Arrangements for the 2023 Commemoration will be considered by the National Famine Commemoration Committee later in the year.
