Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

309. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether it would be appropriate to organise the national and international famine commemoration days on the same day, the third Sunday in May. [21066/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Famine Commemoration Committee, established in 2008, is charged with considering arrangements for the National Famine Commemoration Day.

In 2018, the Government 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.

This year's National Famine Commemoration will take place on Sunday 21 May 2023 in Milford, Co. Donegal. The annual National Famine Commemoration provides an opportunity for a host community to honour the memory of those who perished or suffered loss during the famine.

The International Famine Commemoration provides diaspora communities the opportunity to remember and reflect on the impact of the famine and the emigration that followed in its wake, and also celebrate the achievements of those who fled Ireland and set up new lives and established thriving communities across the globe.

Proposals are currently being developed by officials of my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs in relation to the 2023 International Famine Commemoration.

There are currently no plans to align the dates of the National and International Famine Commemorations.