Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
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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.

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Noonan for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan. I acknowledge the Senator's contribution to the sector during his time as Minister of State with responsibility for nature, heritage and electoral reform. The Department is of course aware of the important commitment in the programme for Government to undertake a review of the Heritage Act 1995, the primary purpose of which was to establish the Heritage Council. The Heritage Council provides a hugely valuable service to the public in raising awareness and understanding of our rich natural, built, archaeological and cultural heritage, in supporting community organisations and heritage professionals through grant and other funding, and in providing expert advice to the Government on a wide range of matters relating to heritage policy.

Much has changed in the 30 years since the passing of the Heritage Act and the time is right now to review its provisions to ensure both the Heritage Council and the sector as a whole can continue to deliver for all sections of Irish society. The Act provides that the function of the Heritage Council shall be to propose policies and priorities "for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of [our] national heritage”. It specifies that the national heritage should be understood to include “monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objects, architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes, seascapes, wrecks, geology, heritage gardens and parks and inland waterways.” The definition of heritage provided for in the Act focuses very much on physical objects - the Senator referenced this in his opening comments - and omits to mention less tangible aspects such as folklore, oral history and traditional skills and practices. In light of the important work both ongoing and yet to be undertaken in these areas, this is certainly a topic the proposed review will consider. The Act goes on to outline the particular role the council should play in promoting interest, appreciation, knowledge and pride in our national heritage and in co-operating with other public bodies and co-ordinating all activities related to its functions. Emphasis is placed on the role of the council in promoting appreciation and enjoyment of our heritage, a responsibility it discharges very effectively through excellent initiatives such as National Heritage Week and the community heritage grant scheme.

In considering how things have changed since 1995, I acknowledge the particular and growing importance of biodiversity, natural heritage and cultural heritage, particularly that of immigrant communities and historically marginalised groups. The Heritage Council already plays an important role in both of these areas through its funding for local authority biodiversity officers, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and its ongoing work on museum standards, archives, oral histories and the national Traveller heritage plan, among other initiatives.

A review of the Heritage Act is a new Government commitment and the Department is reorganising staff responsibilities to ensure it is appropriately resourced. Our intention is to establish a working group this year to commence the review. The working group, which will include representation from the Heritage Council, will seek to identify and prioritise areas where any shortcomings in the Act create a practical hindrance to the work of the council and to consider whether opportunities exist to streamline and make more effective the work of the sector as a whole. The immediate task of the working group will be to define the scope of the Heritage Act review, at which point it will be possible to provide further detail on the process and timelines to be followed. I know this is an area on which the Senator will keep close attention.

Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
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Members are probably used to standing up here and saying they are disappointed with the response they get. I warmly welcome the response from the Minister of State in this case. As I said in my opening remarks, it is really important that we use an evidence-based approach. I refer to that specific point I made about the research function in the Heritage Council, but all of that will be teased out as the working group sets about its task. It will take considerable time. There is no doubt but that it is a significant Act. Indeed, it is a significant sector to try to get into the roots of to ensure everybody has a say in this review process and that we have a vibrant sector into the future. I go back to that resourcing point. I say that with the framing of the Minister of State's budgets for 2026 in mind. It is really important that we continue to grow the sector. We are in a good space, which has not always been the case, and it is being reciprocated by communities up and down the country when they get community monuments funding, the built heritage investment scheme or the small funding grants for projects or oral histories. All of that is hugely important. We cannot see it as just a nice add-on or a nice thing to have. It is critical to the future of our communities. I really welcome the response and look forward to the process being initiated and to participating through this House.

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Noonan. Again, I acknowledge his work in this area. Notwithstanding that the council has been able to discharge its responsibilities very effectively in recent years, I agree, as I know the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan does, that the Heritage Act, and particularly the definition the Senator referenced on what heritage is, should be reviewed to bring its provisions into line with contemporary views and to ensure the council and the wider sector can continue to thrive, which we all want to see. I assure the Senator that this is a priority for the Department and the Minister of State and it will begin this year with the establishment of that working group. The Senator referenced public consultation and research, both of which will be part of it as well. These are all items that will be teased out in that process. Our heritage is so important and the work that goes on by so many individuals and community groups right across the country, in collaboration with the Heritage Council and all of the staff who work in this area, is really valued and appreciate by the Department. We will continue to work with them going forward.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I thank Members for their attention and attendance here today. With that final Commencement matter, the House stands suspended until 11.30 a.m.