John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when planning for the famine remembrance days will be incorporated into her Department (details supplied). [12876/23]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for taking my question. I tabled this question in February and it might have done a tour of Departments before it landed on the Minister's desk so I am grateful to her for taking it today. It relates to a commemorative date plaque of the first famine commemoration, which was held, not in Skibereen in 2009, but at the Custom House in Dublin, appropriately, in 2008.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Deputy also asked why responsibility for the commemoration is with my Department. My Department hosts the national famine commemoration day each year. As the Deputy mentioned, the commemoration was established in 2008, with the secretariat to the committee provided by the then Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The secretariat role and responsibility for organising the national famine commemoration has remained with my Department since then. On 1 May 2018, the Government approved the designation of the third Sunday of May each year as National Famine Commemoration Day. The arrangements for the holding of the commemoration on this day or the preceding Saturday is decided each year following consultation with the relevant local authority and host community. The commemoration takes place in each province on a rotating basis.

This year it will be held in Milford, County Donegal next Sunday, 21 May. The commemoration, which will be open to the public, will be presided over by the President and will include military honours and a wreath laying ceremony. The national famine commemoration is an opportunity for the State and communities to honour the memory of those who were lost to death and emigration due to the Great Famine. The location of the annual commemoration is usually announced in early spring each year. However, the planning and preparation with the relevant stakeholders begins some time before the official announcement.

The national famine commemoration committee, which I Chair, has responsibility for considering and developing appropriate arrangements for annual national commemorations of the famine. Membership of the committee includes a range of parties, including representatives of relevant governmental and non-governmental organisations, NGOs, as well as individuals with a particular interest or expertise in relevant issues.

With respect to the Deputy Lahart's question on the plaque, officials from my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the OPW have agreed to the placement of a plaque in the Custom House visitors' centre to commemorate the first meeting of the national famine commemoration committee in 2008. It is expected it will be installed in the coming weeks.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am grateful. I presume the impetus for that came from the Minister. It is 15 years later. Key figures from NGOs and other organisations are often involved. A constituent of mine, Mr. Michael Blanch, has been a strong advocate of famine commemoration. He will be delighted to hear that the plaque will finally be placed in the Custom House. A plaque is installed to mark the site of the commemoration each year. He also made the point to me that responsibility for all national commemorative days and events is located in the Department of the Taoiseach and he wonders why responsibility for famine commemoration is not located there. A criticism from people involved in the famine piece is that two months' advance notice of where the event will be held is not adequate. The optimum would be that six months to a year advance notice of where in each province it will be held would be appropriate. Perhaps the Minister can answer that. I am grateful for a conclusion to the issue of the plaque.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Deputy and his constituency colleague, Deputy Duffy, have been in contact with me about the work of Michael Blanch on many occasions.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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He would have more access to Ministers.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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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.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I ask Deputy Lahart to be brief.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am heartened to know that a constituency colleague has an equal interest in this. The Deputy has probably more access to the Minister than I would have.

Those were fairly comprehensive responses, particularly in relation to the commemorative plague. The Minister will agree 15 years is a long time to wait but I am grateful that she, as Minister, has ensured that it is finally happening. It will be appreciated.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I was glad to confirm that it is expected to be installed in the coming weeks.