Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way it is intended to update and consolidate the law on National monuments to maximise and clarify the protection provided to Ireland's archaeological heritage. [17810/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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A considerable amount of preparatory work has been done in my Department to develop proposals for the consolidation and modernisation of current national monuments legislation. The enactments relating to the protection of archaeological heritage date from 1930 to 2004 and need to be consolidated and updated to take account of current and future circumstances. In doing so account will also have to be taken of the consequential implications for other statutory codes, including the Roads Acts and the Planning Acts.

I intend to review this matter in the coming months, with a view to submitting new legislative proposals to Government for approval. Before doing so, I wish to consult the various interested parties, to ensure that we produce a modernised and effective code that gives the highest possible priority to the protection of our archaeological heritage, to which I am fully committed. Arrangements for these consultations are being put in place.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when it is intended to seek designation of Clonmacnoise as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; if he will also seek such designation for Tara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17811/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government includes a commitment to seek designation for Clonmacnoise as a World Heritage Site. I have requested my Department to liaise with UNESCO in relation to this designation.

Tara is not one of the sites on the tentative list for World Heritage status prepared by a Departmental Committee following public consultation before I became Minister. However I will keep the issue of seeking designation for Tara under review.