asked the Minister for Finance the conditions or restrictions usually inserted in excavation licences granted in accordance with section 26 of the National Monuments Act, 1930.
Written Answers. - Excavation Licences.
291.
From 1967 until 1976 the following conditions were attached to excavation licences issued by the Commissioners of Public Works under the National Monuments Acts, 1930 and 1954:
1. The licensee shall comply in all respects with the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, 1930 and 1954 and shall furnish a report, as laid down in section 23 of the 1930 Act, as amended by section 13 of the 1954 Act, regarding the finding of such archaeological objects as may be found.
2. The licensee must obtain from the owner of the land permission to dig or excavate in or under it, before he can avail himself of this licence.
3. Finds shall not be removed from the custody of the owner (or from the custody of the licensee should he retain such finds with the consent of the owner) except for the purpose of examination by the Director of the National Museum hereinafter referred to until the expiration of 31 days from the date on which the licensee shall have furnished the report aforesaid.
4. The licensee shall furnish to the Director of the National Museum, Kildare Street, Dublin, within six months of completion of excavation a stratigraphical record in which will be fully set forth the position and a description of all finds made as a result of the excavation now proposed together with the location of the finds and the name of the person in whose possession they are at the time of furnishing the record. The licensee shall also deposit with the Commissioners of Public Works three copies of any publication by a learned society or any newspaper, periodical or journal containing an account or description of the excavation and the results thereof.
5. Within three days of the date of commencement and of the date of completion respectively of the excavation the licensee shall notify the Director of the National Museum, Kildare Street, Dublin, and the Inspector of National Monuments, 10 Hume Street, Dublin, of such commencement and of such completion.
6. The licensee shall be responsible for all loss, damage or injury to persons or property in any manner arising from the proposed excavation works and shall keep the said commissioners indemnified against all claims arising therefrom.
7. The licensee shall, on termination of this licence, restore the land to its original condition.
8. The Commissioners of Public Works may suspend or revoke this licence at any time.
In 1977 these conditions were varied as follows:
(a) Condition 4 was altered to read —"The licensee shall furnish to the Director of the National Museum, Kildare Street, Dublin, within six months of completion of excavation or such longer period agreed on between him and the Director a stratigraphical record in which will be fully set forth the position and description of all finds made as a result of the excavation now proposed together with the location of the finds and the name of the person in whose possession they are at the time of furnishing the record."
(b) A further condition as follows was introduced—"The licensee shall furnish to the Commissioners of Public Works a report on the excavation and the results thereof. He shall also deposit with the commissioners three copies of any publication by a learned society or any newspaper, periodical, or journal containing an account or description of the excavation."
(c) Condition 7 was altered to read —"The licensee shall on termination of this licence, unless otherwise directed by the Commissioners of Public Works or the owner, restore the land to its original condition."