Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
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I dtosach, is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh na finnéithe atá anseo inniu. I declare an interest in that I am the chairman of the Irish Family History Foundation. I compliment Mr. Michael Merrigan. I do not know a lot about him but he has been a great source of information. We should go a step further and say he has been a great source of motivation as well. I was very pleased to sponsor the Bill on the 1926 census and it was thanks to him that it was possible.

Unfortunately, given the way the whip system works, we saw the outcome even though everybody favoured it. There must be a lesson in that for us here in respect of the bigger picture which we are discussing today and how we might go forward.

The speakers mentioned the consultative process, which is probably the basis of what we must look at here. The speakers might have some ideas on that. It strikes me that a very fine element of a consultative process is taking place here today in a very disciplined manner with everybody getting an opportunity to have an input. With the other witnesses who are due as well, I would like to think that whatever report comes from these hearings, it will be one element in the next set of steps we must take. Perhaps this committee could continue to form part of and lead that consultative process. Each person here today has made reference to the agreement that we should all work together and that is exactly what we should be doing. I do not think we would be thanked for not doing so. We must be seen to be working together. While respecting the autonomy and existence of each group, there are so many players, many of whom will not be participating at all in these sessions so they are all there. If Mr. Merrigan gets a chance to respond, he might tell us if he has thought a consultative process through, the extent to which the Department should play a role or whether this committee should play a role.

In respect of a point made by Mr. Mullen, we have all been looking at North-South co-operation over the years. We have not really got a great CV with regard to that generally. It is certainly there in respect of the Irish Family History Foundation and genealogy and some of the personalities which have been mentioned by Mr. Mullen come from both sides of the divide. I do not use that term in a derogatory sense. For that reason, there is some message. Could Mr. Mullen tell me if there is any resistance to that type of direct co-operation and are there any lessons to be learned as we have a consultative process in the future? Ms O'Meara comes from my county even though it is north Tipperary - we will only have one shortly. Again, there are messages there about the linking of genealogy as she and others are doing in the area. The centre is part of the built heritage. Does Ms O'Meara find that the local authority is forthcoming? It is just that it is happening or is there active participation?