Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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134. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a date and location has been decided for the 2022 An Gorta Mór overseas remembrance day. [47731/22]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are plans to include the public in the commemoration of An Gorta Mór 2023, given the public's exclusion from the celebration in 2022. [47732/22]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a date has been decided for the An Gorta Mór 2023 commemoration; and if additional notice will be given than the 24 days that was given in 2022, which made it difficult for the general public, particularly those living abroad, to participate in the ceremony. [47733/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 136, inclusive, together.

I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Questions No 362 to 364 of 12th July, 2022, in which I set out the position in relation to the arrangements for the 2022 National Famine Commemoration, held at the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon on Sunday, 15th May 2022.

My Department hosts the National Famine Commemoration Day each year. 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.

The location of the annual national commemoration is usually announced in early spring each year. However, the planning and preparation with the relevant stakeholders begins some time before the official announcement.

Owing to the uncertainties surrounding public health matters, due to Covid 19, over the last number of years it was more difficult to plan for the event in the typical manner.  Consequently, the 2020 & 2021 commemorations were held in Dublin with limited attendance. The 2022 event in Strokestown was hosted with a slightly larger attendance of invited guests.

In addition, arrangements for an international Famine Commemoration was also significantly affected by Covid-19 in recent years.  This resulted in the cancellation of the international Famine Commemoration events in 2020 and 2021.  Due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding Covid-19 and other international developments, it was not considered practicable to recommence the holding of the international Famine Commemoration in 2022. 

My Department will be giving consideration to the arrangements for the Famine Commemoration, both at home and abroad over the coming months.  The National Famine Commemoration Committee has responsibility for considering arrangements for the National Famine Commemoration Day and will reflect on the experience of the last two years in putting forward proposals for 2023.