Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Tá córam againn agus mar sin táimid i seisiún poiblí. I wish to advise members of the usual warning about mobile phones as they interfere with the broadcast. Apologies have been received from Senator Denis Landy, who is detained in the Seanad.

We will now have a discussion with Mr. Conor Newman, Chairman Designate of the Heritage Council. Gabhaim buíochas le Mr. Newman as bheith i láthair.

I must read out a procedural point regarding the Defamation Act, which is for all witnesses. I wish to draw witnesses' attention to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and continues to do so, the witness is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I wish to advise the witness also that the opening statement and any other documents the witness has submitted to the committee may be published on the committee website after the meeting.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome Mr. Newman to the committee to discuss the work of the Heritage Council. Mr. Newman has been designated as chair of the council. It is not his first term and therefore he has a particular experience in that regard. I look forward to the interesting exchange he will have with the committee.

I note from the Heritage Council website that it takes an integrated approach to heritage, with responsibilities that include both its cultural and its natural aspects. I would like Mr. Newman to expand on that and give the committee some insight in terms of the way that mission statement can be extrapolated. The website states also that the heritage Acts provide a definition of "heritage" and its spread is truly comprehensive as it includes monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objects such as art, industrial works, documents, genealogical records, architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes and seascapes; the list is almost endless. It is a wide range of responsibility on which Mr. Newman can expand in terms of the resources available to the council and what that means. We are in an era where we are almost driven demented by fiscal-speak in terms of constraints on resources but it is important that we take stock of our heritage.

This weekend, I had a beautiful experience on the beautiful island of Garnish off the coast of west Cork. It is a reminder of what is good about our country, how resilient we are and what we have to offer not just in terms of heritage but in terms of the tourism product, which is seeing a revival in terms of our economic fortunes. That is something of which we can rightly be proud. All too often in the public sphere, we can be critical of public administration and policy and how it is executed by Governments or various arms of the State but every now and then, it is important that we take stock and remind ourselves of what is good about that. I now ask Mr. Newman to address the committee and afterwards, we will go to a questions-and-answers session.