Vol. 482 No. 2
39 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on the establishment of an all-Ireland committee dealing with heritage matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17342/97]
At the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London on 30 June 1995, heritage matters were discussed and it was agreed that there was potential for developing increased North-South co-operation on matters relating to the heritage.
Officials of my Department subsequently met officials of the Environment Service, Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, in Belfast and engaged in wide-ranging discussions in relation to heritage issues. It was agreed that the officials would meet annually as a steering committee to review progress on these issues.
A working group at professional level on underwater archaeology has been formed, reporting to that steering committee. Officials from both sides meet to share knowledge and experience in relation to the use of thatch on vernacular buildings and report to the steering committee. A North-South study of historic thatch is currently being undertaken. The establishment of a North-South Standing Committee on Inland Waterways is currently under consideration.
In relation to the natural heritage, an international designation group consisting of officials from Ireland and the UK meets annually to exchange information about conservation matters.
I should add that there are regular contacts between officials of my Department and their counterparts in Northern Ireland, particularly in the context of EU Directives and international conventions.
In addition, I understand the independent statutory Heritage Council is developing strong links on heritage matters with Northern Ireland bodies, such as the Historic Buildings Council, the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside and the National Monuments Council.
Culture and heritage is one of the areas which the Framework Document envisages could come under a North-South body. Co-operation on the heritage may well arise in discussion under strand II of the multi-party negotiations currently taking place in Belfast.
