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

Deputy O'Donovan made a constructive proposal. Contrary to the opinion of some, there was famine in Northern Ireland too. I come from the geographic north, if not the political North, and I am aware there was famine in the whole area. I cannot see any reason we should not pursue the constructive proposal made by Deputy O'Donovan. During my visit to the commemoration in Drogheda last summer, the North was well represented and the Second Minister, Martin McGuinness, MLA, was sitting beside me. This can be pursued, particularly now that we have a committee dedicated to commemorations. It will certainly be considered.

In response to Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's question, I do not have in my brief any mention of the resources that are available for such commemorations but I am sure the information is available and somebody will convey it to the Deputy. Even though it is more than 150 years since the Great Famine there is still a collective memory of it. One of the proofs is that any time there is a collection for famine relief in underdeveloped parts of the world, in areas such as the Horn of Africa, the Irish people respond magnificently. I believe that per capita we are up there in division one with any other country in the world, in spite of the difficulties we have. The Famine left a major and lasting imprint on the psyche of the Irish people and that is the reason for the generosity. I hope it will continue.

There is no reason the commemoration could not be coupled with The Gathering as part of the programme to bring people to this country. That is probably a project that should be taken up by Fáilte Ireland.

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