John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move:

“That Seanad Eireann:

commends the Government:- for the work done to maintain services in the National Museum, National Library, Natural History Museum and National Gallery, in the face of the economic difficulties experienced by the country since 2008;

- for the continued high value being placed on the educational merit and appeal of these institutions as international tourist attractions;

- for continuing to support the policy of not imposing admission charges to the above institutions, thereby encouraging public access; and

- for continuing to support and sustain our national heritage sites and attractions countrywide;further commends the Government:- for continuing to acknowledge the role and importance of our natural heritage in terms of education, biodiversity and amenity in reference to Special Areas of Conservation, nature reserves, wildlife and habitats, protected species and our National Parks and heritage sites; andcalls on the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to:- outline the Government’s proposals to bring forward a plan to further enhance the above institutions through initiatives such as upgrading the buildings, preserving library books and records, assisting in digitising publications and establishing a shared storage facility for TCD, UCD, and the National Library of Ireland.

I welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to the House. This is a great opportunity for us to discuss her wide-ranging remit. This motion was to have been moved by Senator Landy who has an intense and profound interest in a range of areas that he wanted to address the Minister on today but, unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, he cannot be with us today. I offer his apologies. This was outside his control.

I will try to dovetail Senator Landy’s concerns with my own. One of the issues he wanted to raise is the cultural and economic importance of this campus and its importance for the country’s heritage. It includes fabulous institutions such as the National Library, National Gallery and the National Museum. We cannot overemphasise how the Irish cultural disposition punches above its weight and has a footprint worldwide. For example, when I see Senator Ó Murchú I am reminded of the influence of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann around the globe. The Book of Kells, the National Library, the National Gallery and the artists and authors who have so fabulously filled the corridors of these fine buildings with such outstanding works are all important. The Minister is in the hot seat because she is the custodian of this cultural archive and these cultural institutions. It falls to her at a difficult time in Cabinet and in government to fight her corner for Irish culture and heritage when there are diminishing resources and competing demands on those limited resources. We commend the Government and the Minister on doing a good job.

I am always fascinated that such fantastic premises as the National Library, the National Gallery and the museums are free of charge. It is fantastic to see droves of people, particularly young people and students, filling the corridors and queueing up every day. There was a temptation to put a modest charge on access, which was resisted. It is fantastic that anyone and everyone can engage and see the fabulous exhibits, books, paintings and so on.

While visitor numbers continue to rise, however, the funding for institutions such as the National Library has taken a significant hit. The preservation and archiving of ancient manuscripts and books have been put on the back burner. There are concerns that irreparable damage can be done to valuable manuscripts, books, paintings and so on, and while there is a big restoration job going on in the National Gallery, it would be remiss of us not to say priceless records and manuscripts are archived which are not being preserved and maintained to the standard required. We will have to consider that because they pay their way in current terms. The National Library, the National Gallery and the National Museums have hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. They are a huge boon to our economy and a huge part of our tourist attraction.

It seems bizarre that these buildings. which I pass every week, are closed on bank holidays. I could understand in a normal week that they might not open every Monday but for families, tourists and people on a day off it would be worth considering having such fabulous attractions open on bank holiday Mondays. I do not know what could be done about that.

It is important that the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has a strong interaction with other Departments to ensure the Minister knows what they are up to and that they have a symbiotic relationship to support one another. For example, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport recently launched a worthy initiative, Ireland's Ancient East, which is a trail from the Boyne Valley through the country. It must not have checked in with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht because it left out Laois almost completely. There is a tranche of attractions and ancient heritage sites there, such as the Rock of Dunamase and Abbeyleix heritage town, which has the distinction of being the place where the carpets for the Titanicwere manufactured.In modern terms, it has been established that Abbeyleix is the ancestral home of George Clooney, the film star. These things could have been incorporated into what is a work in progress and not yet the definitive project. I ask that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport liaise with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht so that it does not overlook places such as Laois when drawing up these plans and programmes. It would be remiss of them to do so. As tourists fly into Dublin and flock to Kerry, Mayo, the Cathaoirleach's county and the fantastic attraction of the Wild Atlantic Way, it would be well worth their while to stop for a day and a night and spend some time in Laois and in the midlands, exploring our wonderful heritage sites and attractions.

In that spirit, we had a timely briefing from the Heritage Council, which asked us to hear about its work and the enterprises it is conducting. It is a fantastic organisation carrying out fantastic work in communities. Its budget has been slashed from €22 million in 2008 to €7 million today. It has kept its administrative costs to 20% of its budget, which is commendable by any standards, considering what other organisations gobble up in that area. Now that things are starting to improve, there is a reasonable expectation that we will restore the budget for the Heritage Council so that it can roll out the Irish Uplands Forum, the rural towns and villages network, the heritage officer network and other national landscape strategies. As one of the few European countries not to have done so, we are remiss in not having developed a sufficiently robust national landscape strategy. If I am incorrect, I am open to correction.

One part of the programmes sponsored and supported by the Heritage Council is the National Biodiversity Data Centre. It is an amazing open resource for everyone to tap into, with records and databases of our wonderful national biodiversity. We often pay lip service to it, but it is not just an aspiration. We must honour our commitment to protecting our wildlife, our flora and fauna and our biodiversity. Even if we want to be selfish about it, the National Biodiversity Data Centre estimates that Ireland's biodiversity contributes €2.6 billion to the economy. That is quite significant and is not small change. If ever we needed an impetus to ensure we respect our flora and fauna and our wildlife, we should make sure we do not undermine or under-resource these organisations. It would be remiss of me, in that spirit, not to take the opportunity to make reference to my local community in Cullenagh, Ballyroan, County Laois, which is in the throes of a protracted legal battle with the State forestry agency, Coillte, about the development and planned imposition of wind farms on top of people's homes in the area I come from. In that context, it is the view of the community and its eminent legal team that the development will result in Coillte's being in breach of the habitats directive. It is a serious matter, as the directive is not an aspiration. The habitats directive is prescriptive and serious and must be taken seriously. If this development goes ahead, it will pose a serious threat to the freshwater pearl mussel, which is a protected species. We cannot allow one arm of the State to be in breach of the habitats directive. When the Minister has an opportunity, I ask her to continue her support through the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the heritage officer network for ensuring that the Department is fully apprised of the implications and supports the community in its High Court appeal and challenge, particularly in respect of the breach of the habitats directive and the threat to a world-renowned endangered species, the freshwater pearl mussel. I think the Acting Chairman for her forbearance, as I had to race through a broad spectrum of issues. I look forward to the reply of the Minister and her contribution.