I meant to say that the OPW looks after the Phoenix Park. The Deputy may wish to contact the OPW about the previous issue. While it is good that we have many artists using online media to showcase their work, it is not desirable in the long-term and we want to see artists able to perform in an outdoor space such as the Phoenix Park or other such places. Obviously, that can be explored. We are constantly in contact with the Arts Council, which primarily deals with artists, in respect of how we can do that.

I recall the Bill relating to the National Famine Commemoration Day. It was a real shame it could not be held in Buncrana this year and they were looking forward to it. Last year we were in Sligo and although it rained for the entire afternoon, it was very poignant. The Taoiseach attended with me last year. It is an important commemoration and I felt this year it received much more attention. That may well be as a result of Covid-19 and the fact that people relate, to a certain extent, more with the Famine than the…

It is my understanding currently but it could be subject to change with a new Government.

I may well owe my position as a Minister to 1916 but I dare say I owe it more to the suffragettes who, had they not fought for the right to vote for women not to mind my standing here and being allowed to speak in this Chamber, we would not be here at all. I would give them my gratitude in that regard. The Deputy asked a number of questions. Moore Street does not have an extant 18th century streetscape. The only surviving 18th century buildings on that street which are largely intact and have verifiable remnants of…

The archaeological discoveries and paraphernalia are with the Department's National Monuments Service. The report on finds is on the Department's website. Other reports are usually in the Department's archive unit. The quarry-brickfield is a recorded monument and included in the record of monuments and places under the National Monuments Acts. There are usually other reports on the Department's archive unit but they have been suspended temporarily as well because of the coronavirus.

With respect to Deputy Tóibín, he spent several years trying to prevent the development of a visitor facility at 14-17 Moore Street. The Deputy and I have engaged many times over the last few years on the issue of Moore Street, in particular when he was spokesperson in another party. My intention is to have the conservation of the national monument buildings, 14-17 Moore Street, completed as soon as possible, along with the 1916 commemorative quarter and overall redevelopment of the north inner city. The National M…

The Deputy speaks very quickly and I did not have time to write down all his questions, but I will do my best to respond. We had a culture debate last week during which I spoke about the arts in general and outlined in considerable detail the amount of funding we have given to the arts sector over the past number of years. People often talk about 2008 as a benchmark in terms of the amount of money going to the Arts Council, which was approximately €82 million at that time. My Department gave €80 million to the coun…

I do not know if the Deputy was here earlier but that issue has already been sorted out. If he would like, I can get him a written response, but I have stated that there will be a derogation allowed for the summer months.

I do have Limerick roots of which I am very proud, as my grandparents are from Limerick. I am not sure exactly who the Deputy is alluding to and I should not comment in any event. I do not have the information he seeks. Some of the sites in question are also probably not under my remit. They could be under the remit of the OPW or they may be independent tourism sites. Tourism, per se , is not under my remit, which is more focused on heritage. I suggest Deputy O'Donoghue direct his question to the Department of Tran…

The Department was about to receive a deluge of section 42 licence applications from tillage farmers arising from faecal contamination by wood pigeons, which are also a scourge on crops. We would not have been in a position, because of Covid-19, to deal with all those applications. For this reason, I reinstated the derogation for the summer months.

While the Deputy makes a valid point, I was presented with strong scientific advice from the National Parks and Wildlife Service that wood pigeons were not as much of a danger to crops as had been previously thought. We can be fully transparent on that advice, which is in direct contrast to what tillage farmers believe and what many Deputies have said to me recently. The Deputy is correct that public consultation is extremely important and should be undertaken.

Is the Deputy referring to an island named Inis Cealtra on Lough Derg where retreats are held?

I have great memories of Lough Derg in County Donegal. The retreat is quite tough. As the Deputy is aware, local authorities are expected to take the lead in nominating potential world heritage sites. For his information, the new tentative list will be submitted to UNESCO by July 2021. We extended the application process. I am not aware of the place mentioned by the Deputy or its status. Applications can be accepted until 31 March. As the Deputy is aware, Skellig Michael is a world heritage site. As I stated, it is…

The local authority has a certain autonomy in terms of applying for designation or promoting the site.

We are currently managing the ten-year review in that regard. The Department does have a say. We must make selections and there is an expert advisory group that advises the Department on particular sites.

The site must demonstrate outstanding universal value-----

I am not disputing that, but obviously there is a process that must be followed. If the Deputy so wishes, I and my officials can discuss the matter offline and liaise with him and the Department on it.

Of course.

In general, we do not have the phenomenon of spontaneous combustion in Ireland. I can get more details for the Deputy but I know that since the restrictions came into place on 12 March there have been seven wildfires. One occurred in Killarney and the other six in Wicklow. I am not personally aware of the fire in Donegal. The Deputy referred to a register of fires but we already have one within the Department. We keep track of all fires. Some of the fires in Wicklow seem to have been for agricultural purposes. Howe…

I welcome this opportunity to update Deputies on the impact of Covid-19 on the arts and culture sector and my Department’s response. We have been confronted with a public health emergency and have sought to slow the spread of the virus and protect the health of our people, to do what is best and seek the common good. The public health measures have had an unprecedented impact on our cultural life. Going to a concert or theatre or visiting a museum are all vital to our well-being but this has been stopped as a resul…