asked the Minister for Finance in respect of each archaeological excavation licensed by him in 1978 and 1979: (a) the location of the excavation, (b) the purpose of the excavation, (c) the archaeologist involved, (d) if a grant from public funds has been or is to be made available towards the cost of it, if so, the amount, and why the grant is being given, and (e) if any guarantees have been obtained by him as to the conservation, lodgment in the National Museum and public display of any archaeological objects found in the excavation or as to the publication within a reasonable time in a suitable scientific journal of the results of the excavation.

As the reply to (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the question is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

As regards (e) an applicant for an excavation licence under section 26 of the National Monuments Act, 1930, undertakes that any finds shall not be removed from the custody of the owner—or from his own custody should he retain such finds with the consent of the owner—except for the purpose of examination by the Director of the National Museum, until the expiration of 31 days from the date on which he has made a report as laid down in section 23 of that Act as amended by section 13 of the National Monuments Act, 1954. He further undertakes to furnish to the Director of the National Museum, within six months of the completion of the excavation or such longer period as may be agreed on between him and the Director, a stratigraphical record on which will be fully set forth the position and description of all finds made as a result of the excavation, together with the location of the finds and the name of the person in whose possession they are at the time of furnishing the record.

I consider that this is as far as one can go in the matter of guarantees regarding finds.

I am advised that it would be unreasonable to require as a condition of the granting of a licence that the applicant guarantee publication of the results within any given time in a scientific journal. The amount of information that the excavation will disclose cannot be assessed until it has been completed; and when the excavator has prepared his report he may not succeed in persuading any scientific journal to publish it.

Following is the statement:

Details of Excavation Licences issued by the Commissioners of Public Works in 1978, 1979

What guarantee is there for the adequate conservation of the objects in question?

I am sure there are many safeguards if conservation is required.

The question was about guarantees. What are the guarantees?

As I said in the reply, this is as far as one can go in regard to guarantees.

There is nothing in the reply about conservation. Can I ask the Minister to answer the question he was asked?

I have answered it.

The Minister has not.