Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

We have a problem in that the Minister referred to “the appropriate statutory authority”, but that is not the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht nor the Department to which I originally tabled the question. Yet everyone thinks it is a very good idea. Surely the Government, as the authority in power, has the answer as to who is the correct authority to approach. If the desire exists for the establishment of a maritime museum, which it should, and if we are to protect seals, then their rehabilitation is part of the project. It is an important environmental issue but it is also a critically important job creation project as well in the sense of developing tourism. If the Minister is not responsible but thinks the museum is a good idea, could he indicate which Department is responsible so that we can match it up with Fingal County Council and the volunteers at the Irish Seal Sanctuary? The other side of the equation is that Government moneys have been given to private operators such as Tayto Park and other operators in Dingle for seals and maritime activity, but they are more commercial outlets and are not animal welfare facilities of the type provided by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, which will be needed in the future if we are to preserve the species. That is the job of the Department.

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