Dr. Mark Clinton:

I think that defence is crazy - saying "Sorry guv, I didn't know it was a monument". That has been tried a few times. This is why we were stressing that monument destruction prevention is the road to take. When the register is updated, one should get out one's data file and let everybody know that one has got one, what it is, how important it is, that it is protected and that if it is demolished in any way, the ground it formerly stood on is subject to a preservation order so, therefore, there is no gain in destroying a monument. One cannot do it out of ignorance and one cannot do it for gain so the monument is safe. Forget all these prosecutions because I see the Bill allows for fines of up to €1 million. It is some astronomical figure. Who will be able to pay that? What are we going to do - confiscate the farm? It is about preventing destruction rather than acting after the fact.