Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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596. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will ensure there is a national day of famine commemoration, with a fixed date in order to properly commemorate the millions of lives lost during the famine. [44999/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Although the annual National Famine Commemoration ceremony retains a degree of continuity in its format, the date and the artistic/cultural elements of the commemoration may change from year to year. In 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014, it proved possible to hold the National Famine Commemoration ceremony on the second Sunday in May. However, it has been agreed that some flexibility should be retained in order to have regard to particular circumstances that may arise regarding the arrangements for the commemoration in any given year. I am satisfied that the retention of such flexibility does not detract from the key aim of the annual commemoration, which is to have a fitting national ceremony to remember and show respect for all those who died or suffered loss during the Great Famine.