Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy noted, last year the Government announced plans to commemorate the Great Famine with an annual memorial day, reflecting support expressed by Oireachtas Members from all parties. The national Famine commemoration committee has now agreed that the annual Famine memorial should rotate between the four provinces of Ireland. It was proposed that Skibbereen should be the venue for the 2009 event, to be held on 17 May. Funding does not come under the small sub-heading I have in front of me. From memory, my feeling is that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, has been able to assist in that regard.

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