Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2018
23. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of her efforts and future plans to promote the cultural heritage of sports (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47283/18]
View answerAs Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I, and my Department, play a key role in protecting, supporting and promoting the traditions, practices, language, landscape, habitats, architecture and monuments that comprise Ireland’s cultural heritage. We do this on a national level, through the work of my Department and bodies under the aegis. We do this on a European level through legislation, programmes and initiatives, such as participation in this year's European Year of Cultural Heritage. Finally, we do this on an international level though membership of international conventions, such as the UNESCO 2003 Convention on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Each country that ratifies the Convention is required to take the necessary measures to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory. This includes drawing up a national inventory of the intangible cultural heritage, with the participation of communities, groups and relevant non-governmental organisations. Ireland ratified the Convention in 2015 and my predecessor approved an Interim National Inventory the following year, comprised of uilleann piping, hurling and harping. This was done in anticipation of a wider consultation for the nomination of traditions and practices that could be included in Ireland’s national inventory. That consultation took place in late 2017 – early 2018 and attracted a wide range of expressions of interest for inclusion in the national inventory. My Department appointed an Expert Advisory Committee to examine the expressions of interest. That process is now completed and my Department is currently in the process of finalising the first inventory for my approval. The process is also rolling and interested communities or groups may submit an expression of interest at any time.
Once the first national inventory is finalised, my Department will examine options for ensuring ongoing recognition and awareness of the traditions and practices on the national inventory.
Items on the national inventory may be nominated to the UNESCO Representative List for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In 2017, Ireland nominated hurling, encompassing camogie, to the List. The nomination process is drawing to a close and the upcoming meeting at the end of November of the Convention Intergovernmental Committee will decide on whether hurling will be inscribed onto the Representative List.
