Amendments Nos. 49 to 51, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. Is that agreed? Agreed.
SECTION 51.
I move amendment No. 49:
In page 36, subsection (1)(a)(i), line 8, after "Museum" to insert "or the Heritage Council".
Amendments Nos. 49, 50 and 51 will have the effect of including the Heritage Council alongside the National Museum, the National Gallery, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the National Library and the National Archives as bodies to which the Minister can delegate some of his export licensing functions. While at present it is not envisaged that such functions would be delegated to the Heritage Council, it may be that in the future, as the council's role develops, it might be appropriate for it to assume such functions. Therefore, these amendments leave that option open and I commend them to the committee.
Does the Minister envisage that this will cause problems for the Heritage Council in that funding may be required if it is to carry out additional functions? If so, what approach does the Minister advocate?
One must be conscious that a Minister could not delegate even some of his or her functions without having envisaged the ability of the body on which they are being conferred to exercise them. I believe this is a reasonable consideration.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 50:
In page 36, subsection (1)(a)(ii), lines 9 and 10, to delete "Guardians" and substitute "Guardians, the Heritage Council".
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 51:
In page 36, subsection (1)(a)(iii), line 12, after "Library" to insert ", the Heritage Council".
Amendment agreed to.
Section 51, as amended, agreed to.
Sections 52 to 61, inclusive, agreed to.