Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 68:

In page 37, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:

“An Chomhairle um Séadchomharthaí Náisiunta

14. (1) The Minister shall establish by order an advisory council to be called and known as An Chomhairle um Séadchomharthaí Náisiunta agus Seandálaíocht (in this Act referred to as the “CSN”) which shall have the following functions:

(a) giving advice and assistance to the Commissioners on any matter arising on or relating to the carrying into execution of the provisions of this Act or any other matter affecting national monuments and the protection and preservation thereof;

(b) giving assent to, or withholding assent from, any decision taken by the Minister in relation to their functions under Chapter 3or Chapter 6of this Act.

(2) The CSN shall consist of the Keeper of Irish Antiquities in Ard-Mhusaem na hÉireann, the Chief Executive Officer of An Chomhairle Oidhreachta, and an officer

of the Commissioners nominated for the purpose from time to time by the Minister as ex-officio members and of such number of other persons (including representatives of the following bodies, namely, the Royal Irish Academy, the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland) as nominated members as the Minister shall nominate to be members thereof.

(3) Every nominated member of the CSN shall, unless they previously die or resign, retain their membership for three years only from the date of their nomination but shall be eligible for re-nomination.

(4) The CSN shall meet whenever summoned by the Commissioners, when requested to grant assent to the decision of the Minister, and also on such other occasions as the Council may from time to time determine.

(5) The CSN may make representations to the Commissioners with respect to any matter relating to national monuments and shall give to the Commissioners, if requested by them so to do, their advice with regard to any question relating to such monuments.

(6) No decision taken by the Minister in respect of their functions under Chapter 3 or Chapter 6 of this Act shall be considered valid until it receives the assent of the CSN.”.

This is quite a long amendment. It concerns section 13 and the insertion of a new section to set up An Chomhairle um Séadchomharthaí Náisiunta agus Seandálaíocht to reconstitute what was there in the past, namely, the National Monuments Advisory Council, which, in its day, did tremendous work. It is a pity it was excised from our memory. We propose that it be reinstated. In recommendation No. 3 of the committee's pre-legistlative scrutiny, consulting the Heritage Council alone was not deemed sufficient. It deals more with promoting an understanding of our heritage, not direct preservation. The amendment tries to get back and perhaps go beyond where the old National Monuments Advisory Council was. This body would consist of the Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland, the CEO of the Heritage Council and a commissioner of the OPW, the Commissioners of Public Works, who are nominated by the Minister. There are other nominating persons, which would include the Royal Irish Academy, Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland and Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland. Such a board would have the expertise required to ensure that our national monuments are continuously at the forefront. Sometimes, that can be lost. It would also ensure that any decision by the Minister under chapter 3, relating to the registration of monuments or under chapter 6, relating to works on such monuments, would also require the consent of the reconstituted advisory council, An Chomhairle um Séadchomharthaí Náisiunta agus Seandálaíocht.

Such a body would also be able to give assistance to the OPW in its work on heritage preservation. There does not seem to be any oversight of ministerial decisions on a day-to-day basis by the experts. There is obviously oversight by the Oireachtas. There is no oversight in regard to preserving our heritage day to day, so that could be a role. This is my attempt to put together such a body in the legislation. Hopefully, the Minister of State will be amenable to it.