Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The annual national Famine commemoration has been marked formally since 2008 with full Defence Forces involvement and senior level representation, including the President, the Taoiseach and senior Government representation.

Because this event is a community-based event, it was originally under the remit of the then Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs. As this event continues to be a community-based ceremonial event, the secretariat remains within my Department.

In addition, as my Department is responsible for the decade of centenaries programme, which also engages extensively with local communities, there is significant clustering of expertise in respect of commemoration events.

This is a hugely important date in the calendar of commemorative events, particularly for the communities in which it is hosted. This community-based approach has helped inform and educate the people of Ireland about the Famine and it is hugely appreciated in communities in which it is based.

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