Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 37 relates to what I was talking about earlier about the importance of delineating areas of historic and archaeological significance. Without lines on a map I do not see how this clause will be effective. It is important that boundaries are defined and delineated. If they are not defined and delineated, how can they be protected? Article 1 of the European Landscape Convention, known as the Florence Convention, provides a definition of landscape as an area whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors. A battlefield scarred by entrenchments, the employment of a natural train, troop movements, encampments and engagement can clearly be described as a landscape but where are these landscapes identified and delineated in the Bill? How will they be identified and delineated in terms of maps? Let us take UNESCO sites, for example. The wish list for future UNESCO sites in Ireland includes the passage tomb landscape in County Sligo and the royal complex at Rathcroghan in County Roscommon. Rathcroghan was the seat of the ancient kings and queens of Connacht and the complex of monuments extends over an area of about 800 ha. How can we make the case for this to be a UNESCO site and to be listed if the landscape or reserve is not recognised or afforded legal protection by the Bill?