Mr. Raghnall Ó Floinn:

In that instance, we had been working with the heritage services on wrecks, as we do with all archaeological excavations and licensing. The licensing authority is actually the Department and the Minister. We have an advisory role, as we do regarding archaeological excavations in so far as they relate to archaeological finds. The normal practice is that an archaeologist is present when a dive happens. If there are sports divers or divers who are professional but not qualified, they are accompanied by diving archaeologists. As I understand it, in this instance, which occurred in July last year, no archaeologist was present on the dive. This was brought to our attention in the museum, and I subsequently contacted the National Monuments Service to express my concern at the fact that there appeared to have been a departure from the normal practice. As I understand it from the National Monuments Service, this was an exceptional case because of the particular instances whereby there was a window of opportunity to dive. We were very concerned that this would lead to a precedent for the future but I am assured by the National Monuments Service that this was an exceptional case and that the normal situation would pertain in the future.