Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 46:

In page 29, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(a) that the historic, archaeological and cultural heritage of Ireland, as the product of the labour, craftsmanship and talent of their forebearers, belongs equally to all the people of the Irish nation and that this heritage must be protected for the people and as the inheritance to which future generations are entitled as a right;”.

The purpose of this amendment is to insert "that the historic, archaeological and cultural heritage of Ireland, as the product of the labour, craftsmanship and talent of their forebearers, belongs equally to all the people of the Irish nation and that this heritage must be protected for the people and as the inheritance to which future generations are entitled as a right". Deputy Ó Snodaigh's intention in drafting the text of this amendment was to try to have a rights-centred approach to legislation on heritage, in particular recognising the equal ownership of all the people of the Irish nation to their heritage.

Amendment No. 47 extends this further, particularly in respect of performing the functions under the Bill to recognise and take due account of the right of people to access their heritage as a matter of principle.

Amendment No. 50 seeks to insert, "The Minister, the Commissioners, the Board, the Council and each local authority, as relevant, shall be answerable for the performance of their functions under this Act to the Joint Oireachtas Committee with responsibility for heritage." This is one of the things the Minister and I discuss and disagree on. It is about the need for a more formalised role for the relevant Oireachtas committee in overseeing the work not just of the Government but of the Ministers relevant in this case, commissioners, boards, councils, etc.