Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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38. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the location and date chosen to host the National and the International Famine Commemorations in 2025; if she will commit to making regular the public announcement of the next year’s commemoration location and date as part of the commemorative ceremony; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24341/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The National Famine Commemoration Committee, which I chair, is charged with considering arrangements for the National Famine Commemoration Day. Since its inception in 2008, this commemoration has taken place in each province on a rotating basis, and has included host communities from across the island of Ireland.

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. In line with previous years, the location of the 2025 National Famine Commemoration will be subject to the same consultation and agreement.

There is no such Government Decision in respect of the International Famine Commemoration, which provides diaspora communities the opportunity to remember and reflect on the impact of the famine and the emigration that followed in its wake. The date and location of the 2025 international commemoration has yet to be confirmed.

There are currently no plans to align the dates of the National and International Commemorations. It is important that the International Famine Commemoration date is flexible so that it can best suit particular opportunities to commemorate the Famine with meaningful and poignant International Events that may not fully align with that third Sunday (or preceding Saturday) in May.

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 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.