Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have two points to make on the section that the Minister of State may be able to clarify. I will give him a chance to put a response on the record, and if we are not happy with the explanation, we might submit amendments in the Dáil. The first is a matter I raised on Second Stage about local authorities not being given the powers to prescribe monuments. We gave the example of The O'Rahilly House, which Dublin City Council unanimously wanted to protect and yet that decision was overruled. Why are local authorities not being given the powers to prescribe monuments?

The second issue is around wrecks. Any wrecks, defined as vessels, ships, aeroplanes etc., once they over 100 years old are worthy of automatic protection. Why does that protection not extend to buildings? What is the rationale for protecting vessels that are over 100 years old but not protecting buildings of that age?