I move amendment No. 17: In page 50, to delete lines 15 to 29. I withdraw the amendment with the right to re-enter it on Report Stage..

I move amendment No. 18: In page 51, to delete lines 25 to 39, and in page 52, to delete lines 1 to 3. I withdraw the amendment with the right to re-enter it on Report Stage..

I move amendment No. 21: In page 70, to delete line 39, and in page 71, to delete lines 1 to 7. I withdraw the amendment with the right to re-enter it on Report Stage.

I move amendment No. 22: In page 71, to delete lines 8 to 17. I withdraw the amendment with the right to re-enter.

I move amendment No. 23: In page 71, line 33, to delete “8 weeks” and substitute “12 weeks”. This amendment is relatively simple in that it seeks to extend the period under subsection (7) in which leave for judicial review in respect of the Act referred to may be sought from eight weeks to 12 weeks. The extension is proposed in order to facilitate greater access to justice for members of the public and civil society seeking to protect our historic and archaeological heritage.

I note the Minister of State’s response and will press the amendment.

I move amendment No. 24: In page 71, line 36, to delete “8 weeks” and substitute “12 weeks”. I withdraw the amendment with the right to re-enter.

I seek clarity from the Minister of State. This relates to where, in relation to a national monument, a question arises about ownership between the Minister and local authorities. It is where there is conflict "between the Minister and a local authority as to which of them is the relevant authority in relation to that monument". There are issues there. There is reference to consulting the authority and commissioners on the question and having regard to their views. Will the Minister of State tease that out for me? …

To follow on, there may be a dispute. There could be circumstances where there might be a joint ownership arrangement or agreement in place but then, of course, there are financial implications of that and associated requirements. It will not all be dealt with in regulations or something else. It is an important issue.

I can think of six or seven of these historic monuments in my own locality within five minutes of my house. No one seems to be taking responsibility unless somebody rings up and complains. The OPW sometimes steps in. The local authority does it. It is not obliged to do it and it might not have any status, but it does it because it is in the heart of a community. It is an area that we may need to look at another time. Let us not waste too much time. However, there is a concern around these monuments where, shall we …

On the world heritage properties and the list, that is clearly prestigious. It is something we all want to be on and support in terms of our heritage, monuments and places. I know there are always applicants and a process to go through to get on it. It can take a long time. If it is possible at some stage, could we get a copy of the world heritage list and the applicants – the people waiting – to go on that list? Perhaps at some stage the Minister of State could do that. That would be helpful.

This relates to cultural objects. We had a problem earlier in the context of how broadly we consider culture. What we are discussing here is clearly an EU regulation. We have to be very grateful to the EU, particularly in the context of heritage protection and environmental protection. Clearly, it is EU Regulation No. 2019/880 that is being transposed in the legislation. I welcome that; it is important. So many times we have had to go outside our own country, although Ireland is a member of the Union anyway. Those …

I move amendment No. 47: In page 147, after line 39, to insert the following: “ Report on alignment of development with protection and conservation 169. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining a review of the proposals/objectives within the National Development Plan and their consistency with- (a) the protection and conservation of built archaeological heritage, including ringforts and their surroundings, (b) the protection and con…

I hear what the Minister of State is saying. He used the phrase "additional reporting" but there cannot be too much reporting in relation to this. This is too important. As I said earlier, the amendment provides that within 12 months of the passing of the Act, the Minister would lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas. This is the Oireachtas, the national Parliament to which the public elects its representatives. We are also guardians and custodians of our archaeology and that is really important. The pub…

I hear what the Minister of State is saying. I suggest that there is a lot of meat in this amendment and it is important. In that context, I will withdraw it now but reserve the right to resubmit it on Report Stage.

I welcome the Minister and acknowledge the enormous amount of work he has done in this area. The topic of my Commencement matter relates to the Institutional Burials Act 2022. The Minister will be aware that this Act provides a lawful basis for the excavation, exhumation and identification of remains, and their dignified reburial, from the site of the former mother and baby institutions in Tuam in County Galway, and at any site where intervention is required to address manifestly inappropriate burials. A full exhum…

That is no problem. We have it now. I thank the Minister for clarifying those points. The authorised director is going to happen, as the Minister confirmed. In his closing remarks, the Minister might touch on the independence from Government of this process and intervention. Work is under way on the advisory board and I understand from what the Minister said that members of families will be involved in all of that. To conclude, I thank the Minister for setting out how we are progressing. It is important that we con…

I want to raise an issue relating to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022, which came before the Dáil last night. For those who sat in and listened to the debate in the Dáil - I did see a few Senators present - it was exceptionally moving. We met with the people coming out afterwards with a very heavy heart. As a man with African roots who had been here said, so many people are going to be excluded from the Bill. Thousands of people have written emails to us. We have had all the emotion and all…

First, I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this really important debate. I move amendment No. 1: In the first paragraph under “notes that” to delete “99 randomly-selected members of the general public,” and substitute “95 randomly-selected members of the general public, 4 elected members of local government,”.

I will speak to the amendment. I fully acknowledge the importance of the citizens' assembly and the Minister of State's commitment, along with that of the Government, to drive it through. I have no difficulty with that. I have no difficulty with the terms of reference, which are broad and comprehensive. All of that is good and is there for everyone to see. I was a county councillor for many years and am a strong advocate for local democracy and local government. I am a strong advocate for more powers for local auth…