Ministers statements
Ireland’s World Heritage – Review of Tentative List
Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has today (1 December 2008) initiated a review of Ireland’s Tentative List of potential sites for World Heritage Site nomination. He has established an Expert Advisory Group to carry out a review of the current Tentative List and to draw up a new draft list for submission to him in Spring 2009. The existing Tentative List dates back to 1992.
Ireland ratified the World Heritage Convention in 1991 and undertook the responsibility of protecting and conserving both national and international world heritage, of maintaining a Tentative List of potential sites for World Heritage Site nomination and nominating national heritage sites cultural, natural and mixed from this list to the World Heritage Committee for World Heritage Listing.
At the present time Ireland has two World Heritage Sites inscribed on the prestigious World Heritage List. Brú Na Bóinne in County Meath was inscribed in 1993 and Skellig Michael, County Kerry in 1996.
As part of the Tentative List public consultation process, interested parties and individuals are invited to request a copy of Tentative List and World Heritage Status – a guidance document which is available from the Department to enable them to make submissions on sites to be included on Ireland’s Tentative List of potential nominees as World Heritage Sites. The guidance document includes details on UNESCO World Heritage criteria, a definition of what constitutes Outstanding Universal Value in a World Heritage context, an explanation of authenticity, integrity and significance on a global basis. The guidance document and formal proposal forms are available from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (details supplied below) and are also downloadable from the World Heritage Section of the Department’s website on www.environ.ie.
Those making submissions are requested to take note, in particular, of the following:
- in order for a site to be successfully inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List it must have unique Outstanding Universal Value and not just be of value in an Irish context; and
- sites nominated for inclusion on the Tentative List should ideally be on the Record of Monuments and Places or on a local authority Record of Protected Structures or within a Special Area of Conservation or Special Protection Area etc.
Interested parties and individuals are invited to make written submissions, no later than Friday 30 January 2009. The Department is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information legislation and submissions received may have to be released into the public domain, should they later become the subject of a Freedom of Information Request. Submissions should only be made on the formal application form and may be returned by post or email to:
Heritage Policy and Architectural Protection Section,
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,
1, Ardcavan Business Park,
Ardcavan,
County Wexford.
Telephone :01-8883061
E-mail: worldheritagetentativelist@environ.ie
Additional information on the membership of the Expert Advisory Group, it’s terms of reference, the Tentative List Review Process, Ireland’s current Tentative List, UNESCO’s World Heritage Operational Guidelines and Criteria and Management Plans for the two current world heritage sites may be accessed in the World Heritage Section of the Department’s website www.environ.ie. More detailed information on UNESCO World Heritage may be accessed on www.unesco.org.
For further details visit the website: http://www.environ.ie/en/Heritage/WorldHeritage/
News stories
Minister Gormley launches the legal incorporation and charitable status designation of ICOMOS Ireland
Mr John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, today (10 April 2008) launched the legal incorporation and charitable status designation of ICOMOS Ireland. He also launched the organisation’s website.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites, or ICOMOS as it is commonly referred to, is an association of heritage conservation professionals from around the world. It currently has a membership of approximately 7,600 in over 106 countries – with almost 100 members in Ireland.
Minister Gormley stated “I am conscious of the need for professional networking and inter-disciplinary exchanges. ICOMOS provides this on a National and, more importantly, on an International level.” He added “this contributes directly to the improvement of standards and techniques employed in the preservation of cultural heritage, including buildings, historic cities, cultural landscapes and archaeological sites.”
Referring in particular to ICOMOS Ireland, the Minister said, “Since its establishment in 1984, ICOMOS Ireland has supported the promotion of international best practice through its research, lectures and conferences.” He went on to state, “the work of your organisation has greatly enhanced the standard of conservation of heritage both at home and internationally and you can be proud of your achievements to date in these areas.”
The Minister welcomed the generous offer by ICOMOS Ireland of assistance and support to his Department in its heritage role and stated “as an initial step I have asked ICOMOS Ireland to carry out a research study on the impact of Climate Change on the built heritage and I look forward to the outcome of this exercise.”
Minister Gormley also addressed the issue of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Programme, which his Department is currently advancing. He outlined the objectives of this exercise stating that “some of these initiatives can and will be implemented this year, while others will require more planning and work.”
Referring to the review of the tentative list, the Minister mentioned the Hill of Tara National Monument in particular by saying “My Department recently engaged Dr Jukka Jokilehto to visit the sites currently on Ireland’s tentative list, as well as Tara. He concluded that the Hill of Tara National Monument has strong merit for inclusion in an application to UNESCO for consideration as a World Heritage site and he did not see the proposed new road as being an obstacle to making this recommendation.”
Minister Gormley also spoke of his Department’s National Landscape Strategy and stated, “The formulation of a National Landscape Strategy is a key commitment for me within the Programme for Government and I am eager to kick-start a broad consultative process to drive forward the preparation of this Strategy.” He went on to say “As part of the Strategy, I will be asking the National Landscape Steering Group which will meet later this month to propose that the Tara Skryne area be designated as a Landscape Conservation Area and my Department has already held discussions with Meath County Council regarding this designation.”
ENDS
Media queries:
Press and Information Office
Tel: (01) 888 2638 (direct)
(01) 888 2000
E-Mail: press-office@environ.ie
Web site: www.environ.ie
News stories
Irish Times: M3 not to stop Tara getting world status, says Gormley
Irish Times: M3 protesters focus on Gormley’s Unesco plan
Irish Times: Heaney donates works for Tara auction
Irish Times – Letter to the Editor: Railway makes more sense than M3
Irish Times: State fails to use heritage site register
Irish Times: Pressure put on archaeologists to drop Tara statement
Gormley Outlines Progress on the Review of Archaeological Policy and Practice & the proposed National Monuments Bill 2009
Mr John Gormley TD Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government today (17 July 09) outlined progress on the Review of Archaeological Policy and Practice & the proposed
National Monuments Bill 2009.
“One of my first tasks on assuming office in 2007 was to attempt to deal with the legacy of previous decisions in relation to the M3 and the possible impacts on the Hill of Tara and the surrounding landscapes. I was of the opinion then and I am still of the same opinion that legislation needed to be bolstered to offer further protection to our national monuments and associated landscapes nationwide,” said Minister Gormley.
“In September 2007 I initiated a major review of archaeological policy and practice in Ireland. The aim of the review was to make policy and practice in protecting Ireland’s archaeological heritage the best there could be and to draw from the experience and advice of experts both at home and abroad to achieve this,” added the Minister.
In order to ensure that every effort was made to properly define the nature and scope of the Review and to advise the Minister on the prioritisation of issues coming out of a consultation process, an Expert Advisory Committee was established to advise on how to respond to the issues that emerged. At the Minister’s request the Expert Advisory Committee concentrated, initially, on legislative provisions to up-date and replace the National Monuments Acts 1930, 1954, 1987, 1994 & 2004.
On the 24th February this year the Minister approved the preparation of drafts heads of a bill to replace the National Monuments Acts, 1930 to 2004, and related enactments, based on the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Committee on the Review of Archaeological Policy & Practice.
The main objectives of the Bill on publication may include the provision of:
· A single piece of consolidated and modernised legislation to replace the existing National Monuments Acts dating from 1930 to 2004.
· A single Register of Monuments to replace the existing statutory Record of Monuments and Places and the statutory Register of Historic Monuments, the non-statutory Sites and Monuments Record, the non-statutory lists of national monuments subject to preservation order or temporary preservation order and the non-statutory lists of national monuments in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister or local authorities.
· A new system for the identification, registration and conservation of historic landscapes.
· Improved recognition of and protection for archaeology under planning legislation.
· A statutory mechanism for dealing with all new discoveries of archaeological monuments and sites; current legislation only deals with discoveries made on approved road schemes.
· A single consistent system for regulating archaeological works in relation to all types of development both in the public and private sector; at present differing regimes apply to approved road schemes and other public infrastructure provision and private sector development.
· A more efficient licensing system for archaeological excavations, effectively providing for a single licence for all archaeological works relating to a particular scheme or project, rather than a multiplicity of licences which can be required at present.
· An appeals system where an application for a licence is refused.
The Bill may also provide for ratification of certain International Conventions including:
· The UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen and Illegally Exported Cultural Objects,
· The Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit, Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property and
· The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
While the aim of the Bill is to provide strong protection for Heritage it will also modernise and stream line certain procedures including procedures for licensing of works at Registered Monuments. Work is underway in relation to the preparation of the heads of the bill.
Tara-Skryne Landscape Conservation Area
“I am also pleased to announce details in relation to a proposed new landscape management project which has been initiated to establish a Landscape Conservation Area in the Tara-Skryne area. Much has been written about this coveted area and the detail announced today will be the start of the process to protect this historic landscape,” added Minister Gormley. “The new landscape conservation zone for Tara Skryne will protect the area from development damage. I am also ensuring that Tara will be on the updated tentative list of sites for future nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status when it is finalised later this year.”
Pilot Project:
The initiative is a partnership project between Meath County Council, the Heritage Council, and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, working with the local community and all stakeholders in a collaborative and participative manner. The proposal to designate a Landscape Conservation Area for Tara-Skryne can be considered as part of the emerging National Landscape Strategy (NLS). The experience gained and the issues arising will provide a central input into the development of the necessary framework for the NLS.
Key Points
-The Tara-Skryne Pilot will cover all aspects of landscape, including archaeological and historic landscapes, take account of the relationships between these different landscapes, and their fit within the overall planning system.
- Any designation will follow on from an extensive consultation and involvement with all stakeholders and local community to determine their wishes for the landscape.
-Immediate funding of €50,000 has been made available by the Department and the Heritage Council to help get the Pilot underway.
-A Steering Group whose membership is drawn from Meath County Council, the Heritage Council and the Department has been established to oversee the Pilot. The Group has held three meetings to date.
The project will progress objectives and policies contained in the Meath County Development Plan 2007-2013 which seek to designate a Landscape Conservation Area for the Tara-Skryne Area.
The Minister also launched Bru na Boinne (Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne)
Research Framework
The framework summarises the current state of knowledge of more than 6,000 years of activity at Bru na Boinne, and highlights gaps in knowledge, presented as a series of 38 research questions. Questions cover a broad range of issues, such as –
· who were the first people to occupy the landscape?
· how were people disposing of their dead in early pre-history?
· what was the nature of the Iron Age, and in turn the Viking presence?
· what is the sequence for construction of the passage tombs?
· how was the land used during medieval and post-medieval periods?
· what is the extent of the aerial photographic resource for Bru na Boinne?
· does the built heritage of the area have any unique characteristics?
· how do different farming techniques impact on different types of monuments and cultural heritage?
· how can residential development be better managed?
· how can existing and future data be better integrated, managed and archived?
ENDS
News stories
Irish Independent: Shortlist for world heritage status is drawn up – 2 Nov 2009
Meath Chronicle: Two Meath sites nominated for heritage status – 4 Nov 2009