MICHAEL MERRIGAN, MA, FGSI: OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE

Saturday 23 June 2007

OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE

Following on from my submissions on The Heritage Act, 1995, in 1996 I proposed the formulation of County Heritage Policies and the appointment of County Heritage Officers. To advance this proposal I established An Foram Oidhreachta and invited those with knowledge and expertise in all aspects of our natural and man-made heritage to join this forum. After around 13 sessions held during 1996 the various submissions by each delegate were collated in “Towards a County Heritage Policy” published in 1997. The concept of County Heritage Polices and Officers was later accepted by Minister Síle de Valera and became national policy. Whilst, the County Heritage Officer system is working extremely well, the role of the Heritage Council must be reviewed. New heritage legislation may be required to provide much needed protection for our natural and built heritage. Recently I have advocated the adoption of a County Placenames Policy by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to protect the placename heritage of the County and to provide a mechanism for the promotion of an awareness, appreciation and knowledge of this aspect of our heritage amongst the citizens of the County. I will table the Policy Document at the September 2007 meeting of the Strategic Policy Committee on Culture, Community Development & Amenities. The document also deals with bilingual signage (copy available on Links at foot of the Blog). Regarding our heraldic heritage, I strongly advocate the reintroduction of an amended Genealogy & Heraldry Bill to provide a proper legal basis for the State’s delivery of heraldic services and to provide the State with a mechanism to honour meritorious citizens with a Grant of Arms. To read the article on "Honouring Our Meritorious Citizens" just scroll down to "LINKS TO ARTICLES & FURTHER INFORMATION" at the foot of this Blog.

(pictured above, viewing the restoration works on the Martello Tower at Seapoint in 2003 - I was the fund raiser for this project)

To read the Genealogy & Heraldry Bill, 2006, please click on this link http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2006/2306/b2306s.pdf

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MY NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS ON LEGISLATION

I have a strong record of campaigning on various legislative matters for the past fifteen years. Scrutinising proposed legislation and proffering suggestions for amendments aimed at improving the legislation or protecting the rights of the citizen.

In collaboration with Teachtaí Dála and Senators of all parties and none, I have successfully achieved amendments to Bills in both Houses of the Oireachtas. Most notably The Statistics Act, 1993, The Heritage Act, 1995, The National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, The Copyright & Related Rights Act, 2000 and The Civil Registration Act, 2004.

I have made submissions to Teachtaí Dála and Senators on The Registration of Deeds & Title Act, 2006, The Civil Unions Bill, 2006, Defamation Bill, 2006, Privacy Bill, 2006, The Land & Conveyancing Law Reform Bill, 2006 amongst others.

I collaborated with Sen. Paschal Mooney, (Fianna Fáil) to successfully achieve around twenty-eight amendments to the National Cultural Institutions Bill, however, this legislation still has some fundamental flaws.

Therefore, after five years campaigning for the introduction of new legislation, I decided to research and draft proposed legislation. In May 2006, Sen. Brendan Ryan (Labour) sponsored the introduction of my Bill. The Genealogy and Heraldry Bill, 2006 had its Second Stage reading in Seanad Éireann in December 2006. This Bill sought to provide a sound legislative basis for the State’s delivery of heraldic services, especially the granting of Arms.

I shall continue to press for further legislative protection for our heritage and for a greater voice to the voluntary and community sector.