27 Jan 2014, 11:00
The Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht will continue its hearings on developing a plan to capture the full value of our genealogical heritage at its meeting tomorrow Tuesday, 28th January 2014 with Kieran Feely, General Register Office and Pádraig Dalton, Director General, Central Statistics Office.
Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, said: “Tomorrow we will continue with our hearings on harnessing the economic, social and historical opportunities of genealogy. Genealogy has, in recent years, become a fascination for Irish people, as indeed for people worldwide.
Our genealogical heritage is valuable in allowing people to establish their family history and a key asset for those at home and abroad who are interested in tracing their roots. However, as well as this social aspect to genealogy, given the size of our diaspora, genealogy research could provide an economic opportunity.
There is an opening to provide co-ordinated genealogical services to those people – whether they are in Ireland or from abroad – seeking information on their families, relatives and the localities they came from. In turn, this could provide employment opportunities in many local communities for librarians, archivists and local history tourism initiatives, as well as boosting jobs in the hotel, retail and leisure sectors around the country from increased tourism numbers.
Tomorrow, we will have a chance to get the perspectives of Kieran Feely, General Register Office and Pádraig Dalton, Director General, Central Statistics Office on developing a plan to capture the full value of our genealogical heritage.”
Before the Committee meets with Kieran Feely and Pádraig Dalton, it will discuss the management of sewage sludge and biofert with Percy Foster, Cré - Composting Association of Ireland.
The Committee meeting with start at 2.15pm in Committee Room 4 with scrutiny of EU legislative proposals:
Schedule A: COM(2013)480; COM(2013)768 and COM(2013)769; Schedule B: COM(2013)743;
Committee proceedings can be viewed online here.
Media enquiries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie
Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht
Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Luke Flanagan TD (Independent); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD; Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).
Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).