David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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29. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will update Dáil Éireann on her recent visit to Canada for the international Famine commemoration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39495/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The main purpose of my recent visit to the maritime provinces of Canada was to represent the Government at the 2015 International Famine Commemoration ceremony at St. John, New Brunswick, on Friday October 23. and at a series of other events. In the course of my visit, I attended a number of meetings with provincial government, business and trade contacts in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. My visit received a very positive response from the Canadian media and I was invited to participate in radio and television interviews for regional transmission throughout Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. These represented a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of the Famine Commemoration and of contemporary cultural and trade links with Ireland.

I was happy to note the high level of political interest in Ireland. I met the Premier of Prince Edward Island, Mr. Wade MacLaughlan. I also met Nova Scotia's Minister of Culture and Heritage, the Hon. Tony Ince, and the Deputy Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, Ms. Catherine Blewett. In addition, I also met New Brunswick's Minister for Tourism, Heritage and Culture, Mr. Bill Fraser. These meetings focussed on issues of common interest including employment, emigration and the Irish economy.

My visit also afforded an opportunity to engage with the Irish community in that part of Canada and I received a warm welcome at a series of events organised by different chapters of the Irish Canadian Cultural Association. My engagement with the culture, heritage and education sectors also included a visit to St. Mary's University, Nova Scotia, which offers several Irish language and culture based programs.

The International Famine Commemoration provides an opportunity each year to remember those forced to leave Ireland at the time of the Great Famine and to honour their remarkable resilience in making a new life in Canada and elsewhere, often in the most difficult of circumstances. Their achievements are a source of great pride to their descendants, who remain very proud of their Irish heritage. The Government acknowledges this and attaches great importance to the cultural and economic links between Ireland and Canada. I am very pleased to have led this year's International Famine Commemoration in that context and look forward to the further development of economic and cultural links between our two countries.