tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17581469604198298282024-03-13T11:03:12.202-07:00Genealogy and Heraldry in IrelandNews and views on Irish genealogy, heraldry, vexillology and social history compiled by the Genealogical Society of Ireland to augment the Society's monthly newsletter "Ireland's Genealogical Gazette". See: www.familyhistory.ieGenealogical Society of Irelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328423624994610018noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758146960419829828.post-18890043847773692792007-01-25T14:12:00.000-08:002007-01-25T15:40:18.552-08:00Minister sends Bill to NLI Board<div align="justify"><span style="color:#000000;">The following is the text of the letter received by</span> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Senator Brendan Ryan <span style="color:#000000;">from </span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">John O'Donoghue, TD</span>, </span><span style="color:#000000;">Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, dated </span><span style="color:#000000;">18 January 2007</span></span><br /><br />(text)<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I refer to the debate on your Private Members Bill on Genealogy and Heraldry before Christmas in Seanad Éireann. I am pleased to tell you that I have sent the text of the Bill to Gerard Danaher, Senior Counsel, Chair of the Board of the National Library of Ireland. I have formally requested the Board to consider all the matters raised in your draft legislation and to revert to me. I will be in touch with you when I have had a response from the National Library.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">(end text)</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div>Genealogical Society of Irelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328423624994610018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1758146960419829828.post-54588442783438700192007-01-20T09:31:00.000-08:002007-01-20T09:33:12.479-08:00HERALDIC LEGISLATION FOR IRELAND<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">(Up-date on Article in Vol. 7 No. 1 2006 of the Journal of the Genealogical Society of Ireland)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">Since the publication of the previous edition of this Journal the Genealogy and Heraldry Bill, 2006 has been withdrawn at the Minister’s request for examination by the Board of the National Library. This followed a two hour debate in Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate) on </span><st1:date month="12" day="12" year="2006"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">Tuesday 12<sup>th</sup> December 2006</span></st1:date><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE"> and it was withdrawn with the consent of Senator Brendan Ryan who sponsored the Bill on behalf of the Society.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">During this Second Stage debate </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN">Senators from all sides of the House indicated their support for the Bill and praised Senator Brendan Ryan for sponsoring the Bill. The Second Stage debate opened with Senator Ryan outlining the importance and scope of the Bill and the need for a legislative remedy for the fundamental flaws in the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr. John O’Donoghue, TD responded for the Government with what initially seemed to be a total dismissal of the Bill and the arguments for any legislative change.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN">The Minister pointed out to the House that the National Cultural Institutions Bill, 1997 had only been fully implemented in May 2005 and that the new Board of the National Library had also been appointed. Summing up the Minister said “</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">I thank Senator Ryan for his efforts but I have to say that the newly-appointed board of the NLI must be allowed to fulfil its role and functions in matters related to genealogy and heraldry. I realise the Senator has worked extremely hard on the Bill and has put much effort into it, which should not go without acknowledgement. I note what he has stated about the matter resurfacing again if it is voted down, and he is unquestionably correct in that. Although it is a very specialised area, those concerned with it have a great interest. As a man said, when they have an opinion, they have an opinion. Rather than see the Bill voted down, I would prefer if the Senator agreed, after an informed debate, to withdraw the legislation so the issues raised within the Bill can be considered by the statutory board of the National Library. I will undertake to go to the board with the legislation and ask it to give the issue very careful consideration. It would not be right to second guess a new institution so soon after its establishment. I would like the board to have the opportunity of carefully considering Senator Ryan’s Bill. The Senator may be aware that the chairperson of the National Library is Mr. Gerry Danaher, an eminent senior counsel who may have some ideas from his own background with regard to how matters might proceed. Although I am not accepting the legislation, I acknowledge the work which has gone into it and the motivation for it. I know of Senator Ryan’s deep interest and understanding of our culture.”<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">Unfortunately during the Minister’s earlier remarks he basically confirmed that the pre May 2005 grants were of little interest as he claimed that “the Bill proposes to grant retrospective confirmation to grants of arms made between </span><st1:date month="4" day="1" year="1943"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">1st April 1943</span></st1:date><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE"> and the present. Not only has the need for such a procedure not been established but even if it had, its constitutionality would need to be fully considered”. Interestingly, the Minister’s defence of the post May 2005 situation made the need to address the legal situation of grants made between 1943 and 2005 self evident. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">However, a feature of the Genealogy and Heraldry Bill, 2006 was aimed at providing the State with a facility to recognise and reward excellence, service and achievement by citizens and members of the Irish Diaspora. </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">Ireland</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE"> is possibly alone in the European Union in not having such a national facility and many Senators warmly welcomed this proposal, most notably, government Senator Paschal Mooney. But the Minister saw no merit in the proposal saying that “the constitutionality of the proposal to grant emeritus arms to meritorious individuals requires clarification. I am not satisfied that the granting of emeritus arms is an appropriate method of recognising meritorious individuals”. <span style=""> </span>So it appears that it was appropriate to make such grants of arms to former American presidents and indeed, to our own presidents, but not so for ordinary citizens of the Republic who may have contributed greatly to their communities or excelled in a number of fields. Successive Irish governments have unfortunately avoided this issue leaving the recognition of meritorious Irish citizens to foreign governments. The honorary knighthood recently awarded by the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">UK</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE"> to Bono being an obvious example!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">Hopefully, this new independent Board of the National Library will have an early opportunity to study the Bill in detail and make recommendations on the legislative position of Irish heraldry and the State’s delivery of heraldic services.<span style=""> </span>Given the undoubted quality of the legal advice and experience available to the Board, referred to by the Minister, future legislative measures in this area would seem inevitable.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">The Society is immensely grateful to Senator Brendan Ryan for sponsoring the Bill on behalf of the Society and thanks all the Senators for their support of the Genealogy and Heraldry Bill, 2006 during the Second Stage debate in Seanad Éireann.<span style=""> </span>It may yet be back in an amended form following the General Election this year and in the meantime, the Society shall intensive its campaign for the release of the 1926 Census returns.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-IE">Michael Merrigan, FGSI<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>Genealogical Society of Irelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328423624994610018noreply@blogger.com0