Dáil debates

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

10:40 am

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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10. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will recognise the work of the Committee for the Commemoration of the Irish Famine Victims, CCIFV, and the campaign to highlight what many call the biggest tragedy in Irish history; if she will commit to the allocation of the second Sunday in May, as the designated memorial day, to commemorate all who suffered in the great famine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10180/15]

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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My question is to ask the Minister about recognising the work of the Committee for the Commemoration of the Irish Famine Victims, and its campaign to highlight what many call the biggest tragedy in our history. The word "continued" is missing prior to allocation in my question. Will the Minister continue the practice of having the second Sunday of May as the national famine memorial day?

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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My main concern is to highlight the work of the committee, which was started by two ordinary citizens in 2003. They organised a walk from what was a soup kitchen near the Four Courts in famine times on to the quays. In 2004, they held another commemorative event and last year was the twelfth time they organised a commemorative walk. It is important to acknowledge the work of those two individuals which was not done by Governments to commemorate one of the saddest events in our history.

Although I accept what the Minister said, it is important that we have a set date. Sometimes, when there is not a set date such a commemoration can get lost. Given all the work done by the committee, it would be a terrible shame if that were to happen. I seek a commitment from the Minister to a particular period during which the commemoration will happen, for example, the month of May.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the work of the committee and the National Famine Commemoration Committee, which I chair. The event goes from place to place each year and issues always arise about timing. If we keep the date flexible it means we can give a broader range of venues an opportunity to host the famine commemorations. A commemoration was held in my local town of Clones and it was a lovely event. A lot of work goes into such events and they are very much community driven. We do not want to set an exact date in stone yet because we get a better result if we can retain a degree of flexibility. That is the current position. I cannot give the Deputy a commitment that we will set a date for the commemoration but I accept her point. The commemoration of the Great Irish Famine is very much in our calendar and every year we have had the famine commemoration the involvement of local communities has made it a great success. The international event is always held. I attended it in New Orleans this year. It was a tremendous event. Significant engagement by the Irish in New Orleans was evident. They are so proud of their Irish heritage. It is important that the commemorative events would continue on an annual basis both nationally and internationally.

Written Answers follow Adjournment.