Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I dtosach, is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh na finnéithe anseo inniu.

First, I will declare an interest for the record, as I am chairman of the Irish Family History Foundation, which made a submission here the day before yesterday.

These hearings are a good indication of the diverse range of interests in the area of genealogy in this country, and something we should be pleased about. That is our asset - that there is such a diverse interest. That was quite evident here on the last occasion. We could find much common ground in the discussions.

I agree with Senator Mac Conghail on the need to tease out any issues of tension which may exist in regard to the fee-or-no-fee issue. That important matter was raised at Tuesday's hearings. Mr. Michael Merrigan posed an interesting question: does it have to be either/or? That might be a starting point for discussion, not necessarily today but in the future. I welcome the clarification from Mr. Kevin Lonergan on that particular issue because it possibly is a move forward from where we were in the past. I would even like to think it was not only the recession that brought about that change. That in itself is important when there is a lack of funding. It is also important to look at how we go forward. If we want funding to develop particular amenities and if the funding is not there in the future, we must find ways of finding it. That is something we should be able to tease out and discuss as well.

I understand the concept of the hearings - perhaps it is Deputy Catherine Murphy who was responsible for them to some extent, and I congratulate her on that - is to get as many views as possible from the stakeholders, which is really a clinical word, or those who are interested, and then decide whether the committee can make a contribution to a national plan involving all the players in that way. That is, perhaps, one of the questions I would pose today. Can they see a process developing in which that may happen? It is unnecessary, for instance, to have duplication, particularly if there is a cost involved in it. We all must agree that the assets belong to the whole nation and, if they do, it should be possible to sit down and discuss it.

I compliment the Department and the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, on the seminar that was held, which I believe was helpful. It may not have reached a conclusion but, generally, such consultative processes do not reach a conclusion immediately. At least we became more aware of exactly what strengths and, perhaps, weaknesses exist. However, we also began to see considerable common ground. I certainly did. I saw it again on Tuesday here. The Department should get the credit for taking that initiative.

I would like to hear their views as to how that might go forward in the future. Whatever - I use the term advisedly - "vested interests" are involved right across the board, there should be one common interest of doing what is best for our heritage, people and history. That does not mean I believe one must lose autonomy. I do not believe it should always be necessary to create a federal approach rather than a single unilateral approach. That is something the committee might consider.

I would like to hear views on how we might pool resources without necessarily diluting the identity of each of the players. I put the same question yesterday. I have seen other areas - for instance, in sport nationally - where that has been achieved. I give only one example, and there are many more.

There are a couple of milestones, and the one achieved by the Department was important. Today is another milestone. It would be a pity if we lost the opportunity and the potential that come out of this, and the word "compromise" need not even be part of it. Perhaps Ms Crowe's point about partnership is a good one. We must start in recognising each of the groups and the role they play, and then if we have to tease out the free or pay-per-view issue, that can be done as well. There must be a formula and a forum for doing this, and I believe this is the first part of that forum.

I would like to hear views coming back. Do they see an opportunity? The Department has already made the point and I understand it will work with anybody involved. Ms Crowe has spoke about partnership and there seems to be something developing there that could be looked at more closely. I do not even know the process for this committee in bringing that forward. If that were to happen, we would be achieving something important in terms of what we are discussing here today. I would like to hear views from each of the witnesses today. Do they see opportunities not only for consultation but for meaningful engagement on the way forward?