Statement. Department of the Environment,
Heritage & Local Government,
11th. April 2008.

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 (10th. 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

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