Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Heritage Act 1995 has served us well. It established the Heritage Council and was a visionary piece of work by Michael D. Higgins. However, 1995 is quite a long time ago and there is a commitment from Government to a review of that and to looking at establishing a research function within the Heritage Council. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, for being with us and I would welcome his and his Department's thoughts on the review and when it will be initiated.

We have seen huge growth in the heritage sector in recent years, thanks to the investment of the last Government - and hopefully this Government as well. The Minister of State has seen it in his community in Waterford, with the Viking experience and the fantastic museums quarter in Waterford city. We want the sector to continue to grow. There are thousands of heritage professionals employed in the sector. We see it in the plans and policies of Government, from the national biodiversity plan to Heritage Ireland 2030. It is important, in looking at where resources for heritage need to go, that it is evidence based. Establishing enhanced responsibilities for, and a research function within, the Heritage Council is a positive way forward.How does the Minister of State anticipate that would be integrated into a revised Heritage Act? How can we reflect on the changes in how heritage is defined in our communities? There has been a broadening of the view on how heritage is defined. Certainly, when we brought the historic and archaeological heritage Act through the two Houses a number of years ago and when we look at intangible cultural heritage, inclusive heritage and those aspects that are really important, we have seen, particularly during heritage week, that communities have an active role to play. It is around looking at biodiversity, intangible culture, heritage, folklore, traditions and practices as well.

I would welcome the Minister of State's thoughts on what a review of the Heritage Act might look like, a timeframe for its delivery, and the critical public participation elements of it that would take place with the heritage sector but also within communities. A huge amount of public participation took place in the development of Heritage Ireland 2030 and we need a similar process for this. It is vital to communities up and down the country who partake in, and are custodians of, our heritage. Critical too is that the growth we have seen in the sector over the last number of years has been welcomed by those communities and by the Heritage Council in its role as well. That role is ever expanding and it is really important that we use this evidence-based approach to see where we need to be investing into the future and to justify that investment for future Governments. It is one of those sectors that have taken hits in the past when the country has gone into recession or there have been economic challenges. If anything, it is a time to ramp up investment in heritage because it is all a part of who and what we are and it helps shape our future. I would welcome the Minister of State's thoughts on that.