Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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655. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a review of the National Monuments Acts will be considered with a view to amendments in order to ensure that persons that find archaeological objects in circumstances (details supplied) will not be liable to prosecution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9051/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The statutory provisions relating the use or possession of detection devices for archaeological purposes, and in relation to discoveries of archaeological objects generally, are set out in the National Monuments Acts.

Detailed advice and guidance is provided for the public on the legal position with regard to use of metal detection devices, and on the obligations of any person who finds an archaeological object, in an information leaflet produced jointly by my Department and the National Museum of Ireland. The information leaflet is available in hard copy and also on the website of my Department’s National Monuments Service, www.archaeology.ie.

I consider the present legislative framework, and the manner in which it implemented, to be reasonable, proportionate and necessary in order to prevent irreparable loss and damage to our national heritage. I have no proposals to make any changes to it.