Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The multifaceted and complex nature of what we are discussing was to be expected before this meeting. This discussion and our previous session show that the issue may not be as complex as we first thought.

I concur with Mr. Donovan that access to information can be both paid for and free. We need to consider this if we wish to see beyond our discussions and identify what contribution we hope to make. Even the diversity of the witnesses before us is very interesting in that they represent both private industry and organisations involved in public records. We are adding not to the complexity of the issue but to the multifaceted nature of the important topic we are addressing.

My questions are aimed at identifying where the committee's discussions will lead. The mere fact that we are having this discussion underlines the importance of the issue, its potential and the important assets that exist. In other areas of community activity, for example, sport, the diverse elements of the relevant activity have been successfully brought together in a single body. This has been useful and has eliminated much of the fog and fudge. One could say the same about the Arts Council, although it is a statutory body. There are many similar examples. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the area of genealogy. We meet every so often and make an effort but do not work on structures, disciplines and so on. The final plan must ensure that each player is able to identify itself within the plan and see evidence of its ownership and autonomy. This does detract from the success of the route we are taking.

I empathise with the Reverend Dr. Gamble's argument on resources and others having greater resources for other types of work. We also heard about the success of Eneclann and the bigger picture there. We can all understand the reason the Guinness Storehouse is successful. As we heard, when one speaks to people abroad about Ireland they refer to Guinness or scenery.

We would all like the various players to come together. Do the witness have any ideas on the methodology for doing so? I declared my interest in the previous session when I stated I am the chairman of the Family History Foundation. We have engaged with many organisations, including Eneclann, in an informative exercise which I hope was helpful in both directions. If this process moves forward in the manner we hope, what type of forum will emerge given the large number of players involved? How will it work? If we do not achieve anything from these hearings, it will create even greater frustration. For this reason, we must try this time to make this exercise worthwhile.