Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Deputy Brophy and congratulate him on bringing this Bill before the Dáil. Thinking back to what happened to our ancestors reminds us that it is part of us. It is built into us and is what is known as a cultural memory or identity. It is something that needs to be shared with the diaspora. I was part of that diaspora for a number of years when I emigrated as a result of the crash. It gives extra impetus to hold on to our culture and identity when we are away. It also educates the countries that welcome us about our heritage. The Irish have become synonymous with travelling and moving across the world. They say that someone will always meet an Irish person no matter where they go in the world. This is where it has come from. It seems to be built into us. It is essential that it is recognised. I welcome that a fixed date is proposed. It allows people to plan for it and it allows ceremonies to be planned. It allows for it to be given a profile across media and other networks and for us to share our identity and culture with people. I do not want to be cold about it but the spin-off of that is its commercial impact. In tourism, the education of other countries can have the effect of bringing people back here and marketing our commemoration sites. It also educates people on the island about what their predecessors had to do at that time. A fixed date is very much welcome for that. We have much to teach the world about our roots and where we come from and our history. There is a huge amount of history and heritage in this country. It is about spreading the message and connecting and not forgetting our diaspora, whether our ancestors or the people of today.

See this speech in context