Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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382. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has discussed the option of selecting a fixed Sunday in the year for the National Famine Commemoration Day with the National Famine Commemoration Committee; and if this decision will be taken soon. [15404/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. In carrying out these functions, my main focus is to ensure that the victims of the Irish Famine are respectfully and appropriately remembered. In that context, I also seek to raise awareness of current food security issues worldwide. I can confirm that the Committee has previously discussed the issue of a fixed date for the commemoration and is of the view that, while we aspire to organise the National Famine Commemoration on the second Sunday in May of each year and do so wherever possible, some degree of flexibility is required around this date. This flexibility is needed to try to adapt to the demanding schedules faced by the President and An Taoiseach with a view to their leading the official representation at the annual National Famine Commemoration ceremony whenever possible and also to allow for the particular circumstances that may arise around the arrangements, including the choice of site, in any given year.

For example, in 2015 the commemoration was held in September due to organisational matters which arose as a result of the staging of the event for the first time in Northern Ireland. The event, held in in Newry, Co Down, proved to be a great success with significant cross-community representation. This year, due to the number of events relating to the centenary of the Easter Rising which took place in March, April and May, it was decided that the National Famine Commemoration should take place in September. This will allow the ceremony to receive the level of public attention and participation that it warrants as a major national commemorative event.

In conclusion, I am satisfied that the retention of flexibility in relation to the date of the commemoration does not detract from its key aim, 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. In fact, this flexibility facilitates the commemoration being held in the most appropriate context each year. In the circumstances, I have no plans to designate a fixed date for the National Famine Commemoration.