Written answers

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Commemorative Events

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1399. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the National Famine Commemoration Day will be brought into the remit of her Department in addition to the other national days of remembrance that have fixed dates in the State calendar; and if the National Famine Commemoration Day will be given a fixed day in the State calendar for commemoration. [5930/20]

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1404. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the National Famine Commemoration Day is being marked on the fourth Sunday of May for 2020, when the third Sunday in May is formally designated as the National Famine Commemoration Day. [6165/20]

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1399 and 1404 together.

As I have previously informed the House in May 2018 and in my reply to  Parliamentary Question No 3025  of 23 July 2019 and Parliamentary Question No 2584 of 24 July 2018, the Government, on 1st May 2018 approved the designation of the third Sunday of May each year as the National Famine Commemoration Day, with the arrangements for the holding  of the State commemoration on this day or the preceding Saturday to be decided each year following consultation with the relevant local authority and host community

With regard to this year's Commemoration, I was pleased to represent the Government at a formal wreath laying ceremony in St. Stephen's Green on  Sunday 17th May.  The ceremony was conducted in accordance with the current COVID-19 guidelines and was not open to the public. 

The work of the National Famine Commemoration  Committee, including the organisation of the annual commemoration, has come within the remit of my Department since 2011.

The National Famine Commemoration  2021 is due to take place in Buncrana Co. Donegal next May.

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