Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I have a number of quick points. In respect of the so-called Famine, does the Taoiseach have any difficulty in referring to it as such? It was an imposed hunger on the Irish people at a time of plenty. It equated with the genocide of the Irish people at the time and we must not lose sight of that. There was not a famine in Ireland. The potato crop failed and the people died in their millions or were forced to leave our country at that time.

I agree that that terrible tragedy that was visited upon us should be commemorated nationally and by the State. I ask the Taoiseach again to elaborate on what he might consider in that regard. When is it planned to hold a meeting of the all-party consultative committee on the 1916 commemorative programme? There has not been a meeting since the new Dáil has been formed. Has there been any further development in the Taoiseach's thinking and the Government's disposition towards the funding request for the film on the life of James Connolly, which was mooted and which the Taoiseach is on record as welcoming and supporting in principle? Can the Taoiseach provide further information on the Government's position in that regard?

St. Patrick's Day 2008 will mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Fenian movement, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, one of the most influential bodies of Irish political thinking in our history. Are there plans to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Fenian movement in Dublin? What does the Taoiseach suggest might be appropriate? As an opening suggestion is it possible we might look again at the quays of this great city, one of which still bears the name, and commemorates the rule on these islands, of the so-called Famine Queen, as she was referred to by many Irish people, Queen Victoria? Is it not appropriate to revisit that quay? As it is directly across from the Croppy Acre, maybe it could become Fenian Quay?

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