Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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403. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consents which have been given to a person (details supplied) with regards to sub aqua dives on the Lusitania demand that trained underwater archaeologists using an archaeological methodology be used; if not the occasions the person and their associates have been given consents by her without accompaniment by underwater archaeologists and the use of archaeological methodology; if this represent a radical departure from the State’s policy and practice on underwater archaeology as it has operated for decades; and if not if she will detail comparable consents at other archaeological sites or other war graves. [39780/16]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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404. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if any archaeological requirements have been removed from the license conditions of a person (details supplied); and if this was this done with the approval of the UAU. [39781/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 together.

Under section 3 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987, a person wishing to dive, survey or undertake various other specified activities in relation to a shipwreck that is subject to an underwater heritage order or that is more than 100 years old is required to obtain a licence from me, as Minister Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. A licence may be granted subject to certain conditions as appropriate.

Conditions associated with licences granted under section 3 of the Act are structured to reflect the particular nature, circumstances and objectives of the licensable activity, consistent with the State’s policy for the protection of historic wrecks and in accordance with the Framework and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage first published in 1999. Each application is viewed in the context of the specific circumstances prevailing in relation to the diving objective and is subject to full review and input from the relevant professional services of my Department.

In the instance referred to by the Deputy, the Underwater Archaeology Unit of my Department, under the remit of the Acting Chief Archaeologist, contributed in full to the consideration of the application in question and to the comprehensive terms and conditions attached to the licence.

I am satisfied that the licence issued in this case was appropriate to the circumstances and properly reflected the input of the professional archaeologists in my Department. I believe that the approach taken is consistent with the policy of licence input and supervision by my Department.

Ultimately, an important recovery was made in this case, which will be available to the public once conservation work is completed.