Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister for giving me a little of her time to respond to the debate. I was very careful in my opening remarks and contribution.

I did not want to engage in any way with the politics - or what I would call "unhelpful politics" - that marked some contributions. I have no problem regarding from where support for the Bill comes or with acknowledging that other people have advocated in respect of this matter.

There was an effort at misleading. From the first day I was elected and had an opportunity to meet Michael Blanch, his committee and family, who are here this evening and who have done incredible work, I gave a commitment that I would work to introduce the Bill and bring it forward. Today is the representation of that work. It was the first matter I spoke on in the House. I welcome any contributions people have made through Bills or otherwise. My Bill is the only Private Members' legislation on this subject currently before the House. Regardless of all the issues that divide and separate us in the context of the immediacy of our lives here, the people we represent and the issues we tackle on a day-to-day basis, we owe it to the 1 million people who died in the Great Famine and the millions who emigrated to seek to keep this about the memory of them and what happened to our country. That is the key issue.

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