Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan for raising this matter. Officials from my Department have met the Committee for the Commemoration of the Irish Famine Victims periodically in recent years. At the most recent meeting with the CCIFV last month, my officials committed to keeping it apprised of all arrangements in relation to the 2015 famine commemoration and provided its representatives with a direct line of communication to my Department, which they could avail of to raise any matters in relation to the plans for 2015.

My main focus regarding the annual national famine commemoration is to ensure that the victims of the Irish Famine are respected and appropriately remembered. To do so requires a high level of interaction between my officials, other Departments, local authorities and various other stakeholders. Arising from that, there has been a degree of continuity in the format and scheduling of the commemoration.

While there has been a degree of continuity in the format and scheduling of the annual national famine commemoration ceremony, the date of the ceremony, as well as the artistic and cultural elements, may change from year to year. It has proved possible in most years to schedule the commemoration on the second Sunday in May, to which the Deputy referred. However, it has not been considered desirable to fix the same date each year, given the factors that may need to be considered, such as the site selection process, the availability of the lead person to officiate at the ceremony and the general arrangements at community level. In 2015, the ceremony is expected to take place in the second half of the year because of those organisational imperatives. In keeping with the custom in place since the inaugural commemoration in 2008, this year's commemoration will take place in Ulster.

The international famine commemoration is also expected to take place in the fourth quarter of this year. It will be the seventh international commemoration and is a further demonstration of the Government's commitment to ensure that the victims of the Great Irish Famine are remembered in an appropriate fashion. I expect that arrangements in relation to both events will be finalised in the coming weeks and I will make an announcement regarding locations and dates at that time.

See this speech in context