Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his reflections on the 65th anniversary of the closing of Auschwitz; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7139/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The 65th anniversary of the liberation of the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945 by the Soviet army, which fell on 27 January, recalls one of the darkest periods of European history and also reminds us of how far Europe has come since then.

The Holocaust serves as a constant reminder of the need for all countries to work together in the protection and promotion of human rights, to promote tolerance and respect and to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia.

Ireland has held an annual National Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration since 2003 organised in association with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which is the principal funder of the event. This year's event, held at the Mansion House in Dublin on 30 January, was attended by the Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen TD, and also by the Minister of State with responsibility for Integration, Mr. John Curran TD.

This ceremony seeks to cherish the memory of the millions of Jewish and other victims who were murdered because of their nationality, ethnicity, disability, religious belief, political affiliations or their sexual orientation. It is a reminder of the dangers of racism and discrimination and provides lessons from the past that are relevant today. The Government is actively committed to promoting an inclusive society and to eliminating all forms of racial intolerance in Ireland.

The Government is also fully committed to complying with our international obligations in the area of discrimination and anti-racism, in particular, in relation to the work undertaken within the United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in this regard.

As a sign of Ireland's commitment to international remembrance of the Holocaust, Ireland became an Observer Member of the Task Force on International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research (ITF) in December 2007. The ITF was established at the initiative of the then Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, in 2000.

Membership of the ITF involves a three-stage process and last year Ireland progressed from Observer to Liaison Member status after completion of a baseline study detailing national activities and policies in relation to anti-Semitism. Ireland is represented, at official level, at the biannual meetings of the Task Force. Preparations are now underway for Ireland to become a Full Member of the ITF as soon as possible.