Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if he will institute an annual commemoration of the Famine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28179/07]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach the way the money allocated by his Department for commemoration initiatives during 2008 will be allocated; if he is considering allocating any of this money for a national commemoration of the Famine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29414/07]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach the commemorative events under the auspices of his Department planned for 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30965/07]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together.

The Great Famine had a significant impact on Ireland, including loss of life and the transformation of Irish society, as well as establishing an enduring pattern of high emigration and the development of diaspora nations.

The Famine has been commemorated in recent years through the opening of the Famine Museum at Strokestown Park, County Roscommon in 1994; the unveiling of the National Famine Monument at Murrisk, County Mayo in 1997, which was replicated on the UN Plaza in New York in 2000; the installation of Famine figures at Custom House Quay, Dublin in 1997; and a similar installation unveiled last June by the President at the Irish Park in Toronto.

Earlier this year, I informed the House that I was positively disposed towards the establishment of an annual memorial day for the Great Famine. I envisage that the annual memorial day would be organised by various bodies with an interest in famine prevention and-or overseas aid at which the Government would be consistently represented. A recent example is the Holocaust Memorial Day, which was introduced in recent years and which is organised by a committee of representative organisations. I have arranged for the matter to be considered at official level with a view to having recommendations for an appropriate and sustainable commemoration.

Representatives from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Office of Public Works and my Department are considering the appropriate timing and location for a commemorative event and the possible nature of the commemoration, reflecting the historic and terrible loss of life, the significance of the Great Famine for the Irish diaspora and the continuing issues of hunger and food security.

The possibility of financial support for the commemoration of the Great Famine will be addressed in the recommendations being prepared by the interdepartmental group. The interdepartmental group is expected to report shortly on proposals for an annual memorial day.

My Department will continue to co-ordinate the commemorative arrangements with regard to the 400th anniversary of the flight of the earls. The domestic programme this year included, in particular, events in Donegal on the anniversary of their departure in September 1607. Their journey across Europe will be commemorated next year with events arranged along the route and culminating in Rome. Suitable programmes are now in preparation in my Department, working in partnership with the relevant embassies of Ireland.

The arrangements for the annual commemoration of the Easter Rising, the national day of commemoration and the remembrance at the Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge will also be prepared under the auspices of my Department. Other themes and events may be adopted during the course of the year.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. We have discussed this issue on a number of previous occasions. I know it is not possible to have a separate day for every event where requests are made. The Taoiseach's establishment of a committee to look at a memorial day is the way to proceed.

The Great Famine was a catastrophic event, and in its own way was the cause of an outflow of people from here to the US, Australia and other places, which has consequences for the contemporary diaspora. Is there a timescale for the committee to report back? What is the outcome of that?

The Taoiseach has revived the 1916 commemoration day, which was an appropriate thing to do. A very big celebration was held two years ago, while smaller ones are planned for other dates between now and 2016, for which another Government has a long-term series of projections.

I am not sure about what is planned for the commemoration of the flight of the earls. The Taoiseach reminded me slightly of Hannibal's march on Rome. Will it be Ahern's march on Rome in 2009 when all those Ministers behind him tog out and head overland for Rome?

Under the legislation that is available, it is open to any country to mint a special commemorative €2 coin. This has been taken up in Spain, Finland and other countries. Has consideration been given to minting a special €2 coin to commemorate whatever event or person is in question, be it Owen Roe O'Neill, the flight of the earls or some other person from history? It seems to have been very acceptable in Finland and Spain and I believe it has been done in Greece. Perhaps the Taoiseach might comment on that.

In a commemorative sense, I know the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, spent €38,000 on sending out two copies of Judging Dev to every school in the country. Was that a commemorative tactic? What was that about? There is such a range of books about Irish historic figures. I could not contemplate what was the educational value of sending two copies of Judging Dev to every school in the country.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Punishment.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Maybe it was punishment. Perhaps the Taoiseach might comment on that. Was he aware of it? Would he like books about him to be sent out to schools so they could cast judgment on Deputy Bertie Ahern? Is there a strategy in the Department of Education and Science to do this kind of activity in the future?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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It was a matter for the communications section.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Maybe it was commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Constitution but I am not sure. I am sure school libraries get a range of books.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Kingstown Republican.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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There has been very active community involvement, both North and South, in the commemoration of the flight of the earls. They have just brought their 2007 commemoration to an end. There was an emphasis on the story at home, which is one of a time of change and progress in Europe. The Irish College in Louvain, where the earls found their initial refuge, and the history of the Franciscan scholar, Luke Wadding, were featured this year and will be featured next year. They managed to put a few of these together and I believe they are continuing that next year. I do not think it is a very big event.

In respect of the commemoration of the Great Famine, I think we agree it is appropriate to have an annual memorial. I was pressed here about it last year and earlier this year. There is no doubt about the significance of the Famine in history and our official commitment to humanitarian relief. I would like to make it a meaningful day rather than a day when nothing happens. If we could try to place it in the context of how we suffered from famine, the fact that others still suffer from famine, what we do as a country in respect of overseas development aid which involves one of the highest figures in the developed world and the fact that so many of our NGOs are modern-day missionaries and that lay people are now doing this work, it could be a worthwhile effort. I do not want it to start off and to become nothing very quickly. It requires a bit of thought. I hope the report will be available shortly. I think they were aiming to have it by the end of the year.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I welcome what the Taoiseach said about the plans to commemorate the Great Famine. That is appropriate and the way he proposes to go about it is the right way. Does he anticipate that preparations will be sufficiently advanced to have a commemoration of the Great Famine in 2008?

In respect of the commemoration of the flight of the earls, it is quite interesting to hear the Taoiseach's statement that it is planned to commemorate it along the route through Europe. Does the Taoiseach have plans to emulate the Great O'Neill and Red Hugh O'Donnell and take flight and seek refuge in Europe?

Deputies:

His descendents can make wine.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I hope we can have it for 2008. As soon as I have the report of the committee, I will give it to the House because a number of people have taken an interest in this. We will then see how we can proceed. I hope we would get it going by 2008.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I have a number of quick points. In respect of the so-called Famine, does the Taoiseach have any difficulty in referring to it as such? It was an imposed hunger on the Irish people at a time of plenty. It equated with the genocide of the Irish people at the time and we must not lose sight of that. There was not a famine in Ireland. The potato crop failed and the people died in their millions or were forced to leave our country at that time.

I agree that that terrible tragedy that was visited upon us should be commemorated nationally and by the State. I ask the Taoiseach again to elaborate on what he might consider in that regard. When is it planned to hold a meeting of the all-party consultative committee on the 1916 commemorative programme? There has not been a meeting since the new Dáil has been formed. Has there been any further development in the Taoiseach's thinking and the Government's disposition towards the funding request for the film on the life of James Connolly, which was mooted and which the Taoiseach is on record as welcoming and supporting in principle? Can the Taoiseach provide further information on the Government's position in that regard?

St. Patrick's Day 2008 will mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Fenian movement, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, one of the most influential bodies of Irish political thinking in our history. Are there plans to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Fenian movement in Dublin? What does the Taoiseach suggest might be appropriate? As an opening suggestion is it possible we might look again at the quays of this great city, one of which still bears the name, and commemorates the rule on these islands, of the so-called Famine Queen, as she was referred to by many Irish people, Queen Victoria? Is it not appropriate to revisit that quay? As it is directly across from the Croppy Acre, maybe it could become Fenian Quay?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin has put forward a number of suggestions and I will give them to the commemorative committee in my Department for examination. I am not aware if there is a particular commemoration or if an organisation has requested funding regarding the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

We received proposals from some organisations on commemorating the great Famine. I stated that the best way to do so was to bring together the relevant officials from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Arts, Sport and Tourism, my Department and the Office of Public Works, as well as anyone else these officials meet from time to time to examine timing, location and nature of a commemorative event. We must try to do something enduring because the request in the House and outside is to reflect the historic and terrible loss of life, the significance of the great Famine for the Irish diaspora and the continuing issues of hunger and food security. We can examine the role modern Ireland plays and the contribution it makes to the world, particularly where hunger is still prevalent and rampant. I have asked the committee to examine this. I wish to make sure that, if the commemoration is focused on a day, organisations are involved and it becomes a meaningful and respectful day. They are the only terms of reference I would suggest as well as the correspondence we have received from organisations. I await the committee's report.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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My apologies to other Members offering but I must move on because, by order of the House yesterday, Private Members' business must take place at 12 noon today.