Don Lydon (Fianna Fail)

I too support the thrust of the Bill. When I first read it I thought it was a very good Bill and written by somebody who has an interest in this area as I have. I can see from where the Minister is coming when he speaks about the committee on genealogy and heraldry as provided in section 13 of the 1977 Act, that there is a Chief Herald and that it is legal. The only matter on which I take issue with him is the designation of Gaelic chieftainships and grants of arms. It would be a pity if we lost forever the whole concept of Gaelic chieftainship because there are people like O'Conor Don, O'Neill, O'Donnell, O'Brien of Thomond, McDonnell of the Glens, McGillycuddy of the Reeks and so on, who can genuinely trace their ancestry back to when before the Normans came to Ireland. I do not believe in titles but there would be some way of recognising these people and I believe it could be included in the grants of arms.

I welcome the thrust of the Bill. Whoever put it together had a genuine interest. I would hate to see it being voted down because we can get what we want by using the committee.