Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is a very popular method of burial in Mount Jerome, where there are two crematoria. However, to cut a long story short, I was also spoken to by some craftsmen who traditionally designed, carved and erected the headstones for deceased people. A lovely memorial stands at the northern corner of Harold's Cross Park to commemorate the members of the fourth battalion of the Old IRA. My grandfather was from Harold's Cross and was a member of that particular Old IRA unit, which is commemorated there by a Celtic cross. That cross was built by a traditional family of monumental sculptors from Harold's Cross called Broe. That family is long gone and as has been pointed out already, more than 16 traditional monumental sculptures are now gone. I appreciate that technology is moving into the field and I understand one can now use computers to carry out much of the design work and that the beautiful handwork on the granite at the Harold's Cross memorial commemorating my grandfather's Old IRA unit probably is becoming a thing of the past. I do not see many such examples around the place.

However, in the brief time available to me, I wish to emphasise it is wrong that cemeteries which receive charitable status can engage in commercial activity much to the detriment of traditional monumental sculptors. Whatever about the burial costs and other aspects of the Bill, I emphasise that in thinking through what was happening, I contacted my colleague, Senator Bacik, who, as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is aware, has an intelligent, bright legal mind. I did so because I was convinced that some item of legislation must be wrong and that the competition must be fundamentally flawed that could allow companies with charitable status to engage in commercial activities in an open market, thereby distorting competition in the market and putting traditional craftsmen and women out of business. The only appropriate approach I could think to take was that something could be prepared to take to Europe on behalf of these monumental sculptors. However, the Bill was introduced before Senator Bacik had been able to put together the necessary approach to Europe. Nevertheless, I ask the Minister to consider this point.

That element completely distorts the market, so to speak. It disadvantages the traditional monumental sculptors and artists. I am concerned about that element of competition and I hope the Bill would be used to deal with it.

Mount Jerome cemetery was in rag order for many years. Gay Mitchell was a famous MEP and he also represented Dublin South-Central. He highlighted the disgraceful conditions prevailing in the cemetery. When he became a Minister of State, he arranged for FÁS workers to clean it up. At one stage Mount Jerome, a place of tremendous historical importance, was in danger of closing but it was rescued at the last moment. However, it is not good enough that burial grounds can be allowed to deteriorate to the extent that they are obnoxious, with weeds and trees growing through the vaults. This is not the situation in Mount Jerome today but it has proved the weakness of the system that Mount Jerome almost closed.

I hope the Minister will agree to elements of this Bill in order to maintain the long-term sustainability and protection of the historical context of these older graveyards. I hope he will take seriously the intent of the Bill. Its proposer, Deputy Maloney, has suggested it is not perfect and he acknowledges it needs to be fine-tuned. Before it is too late for those traditional family monumental sculptors, I ask the Minister to address the question of the unfair competition created by those who run cemeteries and also produce headstones commercially.

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