That is a fair response. I would like to reference the Faro Convention. I think we discussed this before. It deals with cultural heritage. I do not think we are signatories to the Faro Convention. There will be a lot of issues around that, and there will be cost factors and legal and other obligations. However, I ask the Minister of State to take that on board and ask his officials to look at the Faro Convention. The only reason I know about the Faro Convention is that last week I was stopped, just a few doors down…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 29, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “Valletta Convention 3 . (1) Nothing in this Act shall violate the definitions, principles and requirements outlined in the Valletta Convention of which Ireland is signatory. (2) The Minister shall be required to ensure the Valletta Convention is adhered to when implementing the Act.”. This is one of the most important amendments in my name. This relates to the Valletta Convention. Ireland is a signatory to the Valletta Conventio…

As I said before, we are very lucky at this juncture to have Deputy Noonan as our Minister of State with responsibility for heritage. Nobody doubts his commitment and his capacity in that area. However, he will not always be Minister of State. This is a legacy issue. It is a really important piece that needs to be bedded down. I say this respectfully to the Minister of State. I have great admiration for his commitment to heritage. However, what is this amendment saying? It is saying nothing in this Act shall violat…

The Minister of State can give me his assurances, but I will not be here in a few years' time. The Minister of State may not be here. The issue is that this is about legacy and legislation. There were Ministers in the Custom House in the past who were not great friends of heritage. Of course, we have the rollout of the national development plan. I do not want to impede our national development plan, because I believe there are clear principles set down in Valletta to deal with all of those unforeseen circumstances.…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 34, line 18, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”. This amendment seeks to amend section 12(1) by deleting that there "may" be a class of relevant things which falls into the definition of "relevant things" and replacing it with the word "shall". This amendment seeks to ensure there is absolute certainty that the powers regarding prescribed monuments will be used.

Will the Minister of State clarify a point? If this amendment were to be accepted, what impediment would it cause the Bill? The Minister of State said something I did not catch.

On that basis, I am happy to withdraw the amendment.

I move amendment No. 7: In page 34, line 24, after “archaeological” to insert “or cultural”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 38, line 28, after “historic” to insert “, cultural”. In light of what the Minister of State said earlier, I will withdraw the amendment with the right to re-enter.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 38, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “(b) the archaeological, architectural, artistic, historic, cultural or traditional value of the monument or thing;”.

I move amendment No. 10: In page 40, line 20, after “ subsection (2) ” to insert “and (3) ”. This amendment has been tabled to ensure drafting consistency if amendment No. 11 is accepted. Amendment No. 11 seeks to provide in section 17 that where the Minister seeks to delete particulars entered into the register under subsection (1), he or she must first seek the approval of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Throughout the pre-legislative process, there was much discussion of…

I will withdraw the amendment and reserve the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 40, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: "(3) Where the Minister seeks to delete particulars entered in the Register under subsection (1) , he or she must first seek the approval of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage.".

I move amendment No. 12: In page 40, line 34, to delete "and". Amendment No. 12 is a technical amendment to make the text of the Bill grammatically consistent in the event that either amendment No. 13 or amendment No. 14 is accepted. Amendment No. 13 seeks to insert a requirement in section 17(5) that where the Minister is minded to take action which would cause a registered monument to cease to be a registered monument the Minister would be required to consult with the National Museum of Ireland. This amendment is…

I move amendment No. 13: In page 40, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: "(b) consult with the National Museum of Ireland to seek its views (if any) on the action,".

I move amendment No. 14: In page 40, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: "(b) consult with An Taisce to seek its views (if any) on the action,".

I move amendment No. 15: In page 41, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: "Planning Authority’s Record of Protected Structures 19. (1) It will be a requirement to include the register of monuments in the city and county development plans in an appendix. (2) Councils or local authorities shall be required to include an index of the register of monuments in city and county development plans. (3) Any record should be subject to all the same terms outlined in sections 17 and 18 . I made an error in the wordi…

I thank the Minister of State. What he is offering is great in terms of regulation. I would like to have seen it in primary legislation because that is there forever. I am talking about legacy, not a different Minister coming in in a few years with a different attitude or emphasis. He is offering regulation. He has given a commitment that he will endeavour to do it. It needs to be stronger than recommending. We need to compel them. We should be able to find common ground on it. I am accepting in good faith what the…

I move amendment No. 16: In page 41, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “ Facilitating Landowners 19. Regulations set up by the Department should facilitate any prospective landowner in complying with any of the sections listed in this Act.”. This amendment seeks to facilitate landowners because I think they are an important part of this. If we are going to protect our archaeology and historic heritage we must work with everybody. It is as simple as that. I am conscious of regulations. The regulations …

I hear what the Minister of State is saying. It was one of the only two issues raised in relation to all of the pre-legislative recommendations. I ask that the Minister of State's Department works with something in mind and keeps us informed. We are happy to move them here as well but it would be helpful. It is something I am going to bring back to the committee. There is something in that we may be able to feed in ourselves on the committee. I am happy to withdraw the amendment on that basis.