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Proposed Legislation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2020

Tuesday, 24 November 2020

Questions (371)

Steven Matthews

Question:

371. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to launch a public awareness campaign regarding the monuments and archaeological heritage Bill to outline the merits of the Bill and its importance. [38650/20]

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Written answers

The statutory basis for the protection and preservation of monuments and archaeological objects is currently provided by the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014; the 1930 Act having been much amended since 1930. The existing legislation would be entirely replaced by the proposed Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill.

The intended purpose of the proposed legislation inter alia, is to streamline the current multiple systems of monument protection into a single Register with two levels of protection for monuments and to harmonise the system for protection of underwater cultural heritage with that for archaeological heritage on land. The introduction of a statutory reporting scheme, with associated automatic legal protection, for new discoveries of archaeological sites will represent a major strengthening of legal protection for archaeological sites. The various forms of licenses and consents that exist under current legislation would be replaced with an integrated licensing system for works and other activities regulated under it.

The proposed Bill represents, therefore, an important measure of regulatory reform to the benefit of all whose activities are regulated under the existing Acts (including landowners, developers and heritage professionals) while at the same time enhancing protection for the archaeological heritage itself. It also provides for clear civil enforcement powers in relation to contraventions of the legislation. Under the existing Acts, criminal prosecution is the only statutory option for dealing with statutory breaches. This will be combined with modernised prosecution and evidentiary procedures so that prosecution will also remain a viable option where merited.

Consultation in preparing the proposed Bill has taken place with Government bodies and other key stakeholders and it is now at an advanced stage of progress. I look forward to engaging with other key interest groups in due course in order to broaden public knowledge and awareness of this very significant piece of proposed legislation.

Question No. 372 answered with Question No. 72.
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