Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that, as chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, is responsible for ensuring on behalf of the Government, that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine, an Gorta Mór. Details of the work of the National Famine Commemoration Committee since 2008 in implementing a varied and diverse annual programme of events to coincide with the national Famine commemoration are available on the relevant pages of my Department's website.

The national Famine commemoration rotates between the four provinces of Ireland and next year will take place in Munster. In that regard, the Minister has introduced a new selection process to determine the location of the commemoration in 2013 and future years. In line with the process, he invited the county and city councils in Munster to submit expressions of interest and proposals setting out possible locations where the ceremony might be held, following consultation with local communities, interest groups and other stakeholders. The purpose of the new approach is to generate public awareness and interest in the annual national Famine commemoration, to increase the number of potential sites available to choose from each year and to ensure that the selection process is as transparent and open as possible. A sub-committee of the National Famine Commemoration Committee is currently assessing the proposals and will recommend the most suitable site. The Minister expects to announce the date and location of the 2013 commemoration following the next meeting of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, which is due to be held in mid-December. In line with previous years, an international event is also being planned to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. It is proposed to hold the 2013 international Famine commemoration on Sunday, 25 August in Sydney, Australia.

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