Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, and Senator Boyhan for his input. The key issue for me was to communicate the importance of that local perspective. The PPNs are one route, while the local planning authorities are another. As the Minister of State indicated, he believes the Heritage Council will engage with local authorities in the process of its advice to the Minister. I welcome the fact he indicated that in respect of this provision, he might bring forward an amendment seeking a review to ensure there will not be, for example, large-scale deregistration, or the removal of registered status, in respect of monuments. A review clause is a good idea. Perhaps when there is a review, the various bodies that have indicated they could contribute to such a review could give useful input as part of such a review.

The next section refers to public awareness of the register. It is not completely clear to me, although I accept we do not have an opportunity to go back and forth on Report Stage, whether the council, where the Minister of State proposes to take an action and seeks advice from the Heritage Council, may be in a position to recommend a specific action. The Bill seeks only views, if any, on the action and views, if any, in deciding whether to take the action. One action the council may wish to recommend is that there be a public consultation in respect of that action. That is something that could be provided for with a small amendment on Report Stage, such that the Heritage Council will not simply give the input, with the Minister to decide whether to take it. Rather, it might decide on an additional consultation process that might be required. I refer to cases that are identified as sensitive and are not a simple "Yes" or "No" but require more input. Perhaps making clear that that is a potential outcome of advice from the Heritage Council could be done when the Bill goes to the Dáil.

I reiterate that the National Museum of Ireland has a particular input here, as does An Taisce. I will not press forward with my amendment regarding the public-participation network, given the Minister of State is correct in that the Bill is not really constructed in terms of direct engagement. That is one issue where other forms of local authority and local planning authority engagement might be the filter, but I will not press amendment No. 12 on the understanding it is the Minister of State's expectation that the Heritage Council will engage with local authorities where it deems that relevant.