Mr. Michael Starrett:

Culture and heritage are inextricably linked. The Senator asked whether we would be better as a Department? I will look at my departmental colleagues over there and say that is the last thing heritage needs. What one needs to remember is that the Houses of the Oireachtas established the Heritage Council. Under legislation, it gave it a degree of autonomy and independence. It has an independent board and an independent chairman. To go back to the fight, what is needed is the capacity and resources that allow it to effectively do the job.