Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

947. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the plans that are in place for Ireland to sign the Council of Europe FARO Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (2005) (details supplied); if there is a timetable for this; the reason it has not been signed up to this point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12364/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The 2005 ‘Faro Convention’ emphasises the important aspects of heritage as they relate to human rights and democracy. It promotes a wider understanding of heritage and its relationship to communities and society. The objective of Faro is to ensure that cultural heritage contributes to the social, cultural and economic dynamics of communities.

While the Convention has not been signed or ratified to date by Ireland, the principles of Faro have long been held in guiding relevant policy and supports across relevant departments, with community engagement and the harvesting of public views and values, including citizen science input, increasingly at the core of policy approaches regarding all heritage in Ireland.

Given the far-ranging embrace of ‘cultural heritage’ as implicit by the Convention, the implications, benefits and processes of Ireland ratifying the Convention extend well beyond the remit of my own Department. Necessary cross-government discussions will require the input of all relevant departments and agencies and institutions, as well as crucially civic engagement and ultimately a Government decision. There is an Action in the national heritage plan - Heritage Ireland 2030 - to consider all matters relating to the Convention. As lead for the coordination of implementation of Heritage Ireland 2030, my Department will progress contact with all the necessary stakeholders during the lifetime of the Heritage Ireland Plan, to encourage meaningful participation in the process required to bring the Convention forward.