Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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345. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht [21203/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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346. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht [21204/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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347. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether she agrees that the islands should not be excluded from the hosting of the annual national famine commemoration day? [21205/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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348. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the 2008 national famine commemoration day plaque will be installed at the famine sculpture on Custom House Quay. [21206/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 345, 346, 347 and 348 together.

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. There is no such Government Decision in respect of the International event.

The National Famine Commemoration is an opportunity for the State and communities across the country to honour the memory of those who were lost to death and emigration due to the Great Famine. Given that no part of the country was unaffected, including the communities on our coastal islands, it is appropriate that it is held in a different location every year, allowing for local community involvement which is unique to this national State commemoration.

As Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am looking forward to attending the 2024 National Famine Commemoration in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford on Sunday 19 May 2024. The ceremony will be presided over by the Taoiseach and will mark the culmination of a week of community-focused remembrance activities and provide the people of Longford and surrounding counties the opportunity to honour the memory of all those who suffered during the Great Irish Famine.

I am conscious of the importance of providing sufficient notice to ensure that both the National and International Famine Commemorations provide maximum opportunities for Irish people at home and abroad, communities, schools, local authorities and ambassadors, time to plan so that this important day can be marked appropriately and offer an opportunity for meaningful reflection. I will continue to work with officials in this regard, to ensure that such notice is provided, while at the same time ensuring there is sufficient flexibility to deliver a meaningful programme at home and abroad.

There are currently no plans to align the dates of the National and International Famine Commemorations. Any such proposal would need to be carefully considered, so as not to unintentionally restrict options for an appropriate International Famine Commemoration event. It is important that the International Famine Commemoration date is flexible so that it can best suit particular opportunities to commemorate An Gorta Mór with meaningful and poignant international events that may not fully align with that third Sunday (or preceding Saturday) in May.

In relation to a proposed plaque at the famine memorial sculpture on Customs House Quay, this is a matter for Dublin City Council rather than my Department, as the sculpture is under the Council’s remit.