I beg to move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment 6, which reads:—
New Section. Before section 25 a new section inserted as follows:
"25.—(1) It shall not be lawful for any person to injure, deface or destroy any archaeological object, nor shall it be lawful for any person to alter any archæological object otherwise than under and in accordance with a licence in that behalf granted under this section.
(2) The Minister for Education may if he thinks fit issue to any person a licence to alter a specified archæological object in such manner, to such extent and subject to such conditions as are specified in such licence.
(3) Every person who injures, defaces, destroys or alters an archæological object in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment."
This amendment means adding a new section and it brings the archæological objects into line with the national monuments, as regards putting restrictions on any interference with them and preventing their destruction. I think it is quite a usual thing to have very valuable objects of antiquarian interest discovered and afterwards to find these destroyed or melted down. At present, there is no penalty imposed for their destruction. This amendment will impose a penalty. At the same time, it gives power to the Minister for Education, if he thinks fit, to issue a licence to alter a specified archaeological object.