Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. In 2010 a tentative list of sites for designation to UNESCO world heritage status was put forward by this State. Unfortunately, nothing very much happened after that with regard to that tentative list. During my time as a Deputy in the Thirty-first Dáil, the Dáil before last, I took the opportunity to visit UNESCO to hear what was happening with the list and the body was surprised to hear from somebody from Ireland, such was the lack of communication or follow-up from here. I am glad that Ireland is now putting forward a new tentative list and I very much hope there will be a degree of energy involved in that that was sorely absent over the past decade or so.

The 2010 list contained a grouping of early monastic sites, namely, Clonmacnoise, Glendalough, Inis Cealtra, Durrow, Kells and Monasterboice. Fortunately, any UNESCO proposal or designation for a world heritage list has to be accompanied by local buy-in and support and that is something to which UNESCO very much looks. Unfortunately, in the case of the early monastic site grouping, Offaly County Council for one reason or another were not very interested in having Clonmacnoise designated. Of the six sites that I mentioned, most people would agree that Clonmacnoise from an archaeological perspective, or even perhaps an architectural one, is the most interesting. Due to that site not being progressed and the lack of appetite from Offaly to do so, the entire group did not progress.

Similarly, there was a western stone forts designation which included Dún Aonghusa, which would probably be the most well-known of them, Cahercommaun, in Killinaboy, north Clare, and three other forts, including two in County Kerry. As Kerry County Council, for one reason or another, was not very interested in advancing its designation, that grouping fell. There were other single designations such as the Burren and Georgian Dublin. It is hardly surprising that Georgian Dublin did not proceed given Dublin City Council’s propensity to destroy its Georgian culture at most available opportunities and Senator McDowell has recently commented on that. While everybody likes to see contemporary architecture, when there is existing architecture of world merit it should be preserved. I am not suggesting that one builds a fauxreplica of it in any way, as once it is gone it is gone. There was for a very long time, and perhaps even now, a lack of awareness on the part of Dublin City Council of the importance of preserving what is there.

Returning to the main topic, a new list is being developed. One of the UNESCO criteria is: “to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance". In that context, Kerry County Council is moving forward with the Valentia Transatlantic Cable Station as a proposal because it was a tangible moment in time when global telecommunications was born and I wish it luck with that.

There are sites in County Clare in particular, Inis Cealtra and Inis Cathaigh, and these sites are linked with the birth or nascence of a European civilisation, namely, that period in time, the early Middle Ages and the Carolingian court, when the idea of Europe was born. Whether Europe had a Christian tradition or not was an issue of controversy when the constitution for Europe was being framed.

Whether one agrees with that or not, it is indisputable that the idea of Europe was born in the early Middle Ages through the work of a network of monks and they had their origins in monasteries, including Inis Cealtra and Inis Cathaigh.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy McNamara for raising this important matter. In keeping with UNESCO advice to review the Tentative List every ten years, my Department launched a call for applications to Ireland's Tentative List of world heritage properties in January 2019. The closing date for receipt of applications is 30 June 2021. My Department has invited all local authorities to submit applications to it with respect to properties of natural and-or cultural heritage within their areas of responsibility which may meet the requirements for inclusion on the Tentative List within the Department.

My Department's national monument's service has been liaising closely with local authorities that have expressed an interest in having a property within their county boundaries included on the revised Tentative List, providing advice and guidance on an ongoing basis. The Department has also organised outreach events in conjunction with the International Council on Monuments and Sites Ireland and has provided feedback on various projects to all of the 31 local authorities. My Department's policy for the application has been sponsored by relevant local authorities or other statutory bodies in order to ensure continuity throughout the process. Individuals and organisations are encouraged to apply in collaboration with the local authorities. The role of the local authority in the process is crucial in order to facilitate public consultation and wider stakeholder engagement, particularly in light of the requirement under the UNESCO operational guidelines for a participatory planning and stakeholder consultation throughout the process.

For a property to proceed to nomination for world heritage status, it first must be placed on the Tentative List for at least one year. Immediately after the June 2021 closing date, my Department will conduct an initial screening of all applications received before transmitting them to an expert advisory group for independent assessment and accreditation. The expert advisory group will make recommendations to my Department on the properties that should be included in the revised Tentative List. As a focal point for Ireland as a state party of The World Heritage Convention, my Department will make a final decision in regard to the Tentative List. In assessing the applications received, the expert advisory group will evaluate a property's likelihood to progress to nomination and inscription on the world heritage list based on the ability to demonstrate outstanding universal value, as alluded to by the Deputy, meaning that its significance is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations to all humanity.

To demonstrate universal value a property must meet at least one of the world heritage criterion, the relevant conditions of integrity and-or authenticity and there must be mechanisms in place to provide for its long-term protection and management. The presence of robust local stakeholder support for the project is also considered a crucial element of the viability for a property's nomination to world heritage status. We anticipate receipt of the following five applications: The Burren, Glendalough Monastic City; the Passage Tomb Landscapes of Sligo, the Royal Sites and Valentia Transatlantic Cable Station. My Department does not anticipate receipt of an application with respect to the early medieval monastic sites, which has been part of the previous Tentative List, although, as stated, a standalone application for Glendalough Monastic City is expected to be received. The expert advisory group will then provide guidance as to the feasibility of future world heritage projects in respect of sites on the previous Tentative List for which updated applications are not submitted under the current round. This would, of course, continue to be subject to the requirement of strong local stakeholder support for the projects in question.

I look forward to receipt of applications for inclusion on the Tentative List over the months ahead.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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What the Minister of State said in regard to the process of application differs somewhat from the published criteria. The Minister of State said that applications must be made in conjunction with a local authority, but under the published criteria, any group can put forward a proposal. If one was a lip-smacking lawyer looking to judicially review a process, the Minister of State has given fertile grounds just now. One cannot publish one set of criteria and then apply a different set of criteria, which seems to be case.

The Minister of State clearly said that he anticipates certain applications, but does not anticipate others. Is this a done deal? As I said of the early monastic sites, I readily acknowledge Clonmacnoise would be universally accepted to be the most important. Glendalough is a beautiful place, as is Holy Island, but neither of them is quite Clonmacnoise. The big difference is that Glendalough is situated in the constituency of two Cabinet Ministers and Inis Cealtra is not situate in the constituency of a Cabinet Minister. That, of course, should not be anywhere near the criteria. It should be based on universal criteria and universal values. This is about protecting sites of universal importance.

The French political scientist Olivier Roy spoke about a European civilisation. Former President Clinton, who addressed this House, not in this particular building but in another that we might some day go back to, spoke about Ireland's role in saving civilisation. A book was written about it that may or may not be historically accurate. It is generally accepted that Irish monks and the network of monasteries came out of Ireland - I refer to O'Clery's work in the 16th and 17th centuries, The Twelve Apostles of Irelandwhich, again may not be historically accurate - and the idea of the re-evangelisation of Europe from Ireland at the time of Charlemagne is of universal significance. There are monasteries, including two in Clare, Inis Cathaigh and Inis Cealtra.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Thank you Deputy.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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I would like to make a final point.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I ask the Deputy to listen to me. The Private Members' motion is to commence at 10 a.m. There are three other topical issue matters to be dealt with.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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If Inis Cealtra was significant enough to be on the list previously, it still is. I look forward to an explanation.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I will have to reduce the time of other speakers in order that this business is completed by 10 a.m.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I reject the Deputy's connotation that essentially there is Cabinet interference. There is absolutely no interference. This is a robust, independent process. I made clear in my speech that individuals and organisations are encouraged to make applications in collaboration with the local authority. The local authority places structure on any process. Local authorities are a key focal point throughout the 31 regions in our State. They are needed to give direction. I make no apologies in that regard.

To summarise, my Department is currently engaged in a review of a Tentative List. It is necessary for a property to be on the Tentative List before it can proceed to nomination for world heritage status. My Department has been liaising closely with interested parties and has been providing advice and support on preparation of their applications. An expert advisory group has been formed to assess the potential of each property to demonstrate outstanding universal value and to determine if there is robust stakeholder support for the project. The expert advisory group will formalise its recommendations to me on the composition of Ireland's Tentative List. My Department will make final decisions in regard to inclusion on the Tentative List and the suitability of a property to proceed to world heritage property nomination. The World Heritage Convention, on the advice of the advisory body, makes the decision to inscribe the world heritage property on the list. The Deputy will note the process outlined is independent and robust. Currently, no final applications have been received. However, as alluded to earlier, five applications are anticipated. The viability for future inclusion of the seven properties on the 2010 Tentative List, including the early monastic sites, will be reviewed by the expert advisory group.