Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 124:

In page 50, to delete lines 15 to 29.

Our concerns relate to loopholes in the legislation that could be circumvented. We are looking at works that could be carried out without following the normal channels of authorisation, in other words making unlawful works lawful. The Minister of State waives requirements in section 27, even if works could damage heritage but not the environment. Works including mining and quarrying could continue without the need for a licence if they are recurrent and happened before the monument was given protection. The example we are looking at is the Hill of Allen in County Kildare, home to Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Fianna in Irish mythology, which was a full circle and now resembles a crescent moon due to quarrying by Roadstone. This sort of thing should not be allowed to continue without the need for a licence. Under existing wording, even if they damage the integrity of the monument and the surrounding context of the landscape, they can keep going. Will the Minister of State speak to our amendments and see if our concerns are valid?