Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will move to the Green Party slot, which I will take. This is welcome legislation for the reasons the Minister of State outlined in his opening statement. It will replace, or tidy up, the 1930s legislation. The committee recently dealt with other 1930s legislation, which was the Foreshore Act 1933, where the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 was brought in. The new Act is fit for purpose, is modern, and will allow us to address the needs we have.

The overview of the general scheme of this Bill that was prepared by the Minister of State's officials, I presume, refers to several systems currently existing for listing, for measuring or for monitoring. Is there a number of archaeological sites, prescribed sites or registered sites held by many different groups out there, that the national monumentsservice must collate and bring all together? Is that part of the work or does the Minister of State have knowledge of all of the sites within his Department?