Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 490: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to support the campaign by the Ukraine Government for worldwide recognition of the great famine in Ukraine of 1932 to 1933 when millions of innocent Ukrainians were purposely murdered by famine by the then regime that governed the Soviet empire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11382/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has great sympathy for the suffering of the Ukrainian people during the devastating famine of 1932-33, known as the Holodomor. In view of the enormous effect of famine in the nineteenth century on our own people and subsequent history, the Irish people can empathise deeply with the Ukrainian experience.

At the Madrid OSCE Ministerial last December, Ireland was pleased to be associated with a joint international statement on the Holodomor. This commemorated the 75th anniversary of the event, paid tribute to the memory of the victims of this national tragedy of the Ukrainian people, and recognised the efforts undertaken in recent years to raise awareness of the Holodomor in international fora such as the UN and the OSCE.

Looking ahead, the statement went on to stress the importance of raising public awareness of the tragic events of the past, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination, and strengthening the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to ensure the prevention of such tragedies in the future.