Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

For the Minister, who is legally and internationally responsible for arranging world heritage status between UNESCO and the Government, to claim there is not enough interest in these areas is outrageous. I have never seen a town so committed to its heritage tourism than Kells. The people are working tirelessly and are engaging with the Department. One group met with the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, last June about protecting some of these sites but it has heard nothing back. Perhaps the Minister could deal with that. That was a complaint I heard two nights ago. The town of Kells and the groups there are doing tremendous work. The idea they are to be blamed for this not progressing is outrageous. To blame the local authority is also outrageous because it is the Minister who takes the lead under the UNESCO proposals.

The Minister is passing the buck. It is about time the Minister got the groups and local authorities from all the monastic sites, Clonmacnoise, Durrow, Glendalough, Inis Cealtra and Monasterboice, together to get this going. The truth is this has been going nowhere. It is the Minister who needs to take the lead. It is surprising to see The Burren as one of those sites actively pushing on. I know Deputy Michael McNamara from County Clare was complaining in the same vein as me about this issue only a few months ago. I have certainly heard nothing about the Royal Sites of Ireland being pushed. The Minister needs to re-engage urgently with all of the communities and local authorities in the areas to push this on. It is her responsibility, no one else's.