Cumann Geinealais na hÉireann Genealogical Society of Ireland DEVELOPING A PLAN TO CAPTURE THE FULL VALUE OF OUR GENEALOGICAL HERITAGE Submission to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht 10 December 2013 Genealogical Society of Ireland CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary Page 3 2. Introduction to the Society Page 4 3. Genealogy – Product or Resource? Page 5 Recommendation s Page 8 4. Education – Genealogy in the Classroom Page 9 Recommendation s Page 10 5. Commercial Genealogy and Research Standards Page 11 Recommendation s Page 12 6. Genealogical Resources – National Repositories Page 12 Recommendation s Page 14 7. Genealogical Resources – Private Institutions Page 15 Recommendation s Page 17 8. Genetic Genealogy Page 18 Recommendation s Page 20 9. Genealogy and Diaspora Studies Page 20 Recommendation s Page 21 10. Genealogy and Local Studies Page 22 Recommendation s Page 23 11. Genealogy and Ethnic or Cultural Diversity Page 24 Recommendation s Page 24 12. Heraldry and Vexillology Page 25 Recommendation s Page 27 13. Roots Tourism Page 28 Recommendation s Page 30 14. Genealogy and Volunteerism Page 30 Recommendation s Page 32 15. Genealogy and Philanthropy Page 33 Recommendation s Page 33 16. Legislation Page 36 Recommendation s Page 38 17. National Policy Page 39 Recommendation s Page 40 18. Conclusion Page 41 Cover photograph: Mr. Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI, with one of his seventeen volumes on the archival heritage of the Irish-Jewish Community at the Society’s Archives & Research Centre, An Daonchartlann , at the Carlisle Pier, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Genealogical Society of Ireland – www.familyhistory.ie Genealogical Society of Ireland 2 Genealogical Society of Ireland 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Genealogical Society of Ireland has taken a holistic approach to this important national issue by assessing our genealogical heritage in its many and varied aspects including whether it is a ‘product’ or a ‘resource’. This is an essential question as it impacts greatly on the manner in which other aspects of our genealogical heritage can assessed in relation to the development of a plan as proposed. The Society’s submission considers each of the various areas that have a significant contribution to make to the promotion of an awareness, appreciation and knowledge of our genealogical heritage or to the further development of genealogy in education, scientific research, roots tourism and other important sectors. As each member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee may have a particular interest in specific areas, each topic is explored in a separate chapter which provides the information on the area considered followed by the Society’s recommendations for the particular area. Please see page 2 for the listing. The Society’s recommendations cover public policy issues, government or state agency actions, legislative proposals, product development, funding and the involvement of the ‘genealogical community’ – both voluntary and commercial. The recommendations proffer suggestions for consideration in the formulation and implementation of a National Policy on Genealogy . That Society strongly believes that the formulation and development of a plan must be an inclusive, transparent and meaningful consultative process where all stakeholders have an important contribution to make towards achieving the worthy objective set by the Oireachtas Joint Committee. In addressing the issue – ‘Developing a Plan to Capture the Full Value of our Genealogical Heritage’ it is easy to see the matter from a purely economic perspective relating specifically to tourism or as a straightforward archival access problem to be resolved by more State investment, increased staffing levels, improved technology and, of course, the hope of philanthropy. Capturing the ‘Full Value of Our Genealogical Heritage’ is as much an intriguing objective as it is a complex, multifaceted and, in some respects, a very contentious and ambitious endeavour involving many different stakeholders across a number of sectors including the state, commercial interests, voluntary organisations, institutional and private custodians of records and others. At the outset we have included information on the Society and its unique approach to these matters as it operates quite differently to other voluntary genealogical organisations in Ireland. The Society has a long record stretching back over twenty-three years of advocacy on genealogical and heritage matters at local, national and international levels. Representing the Society are the following: Michael Merrigan, MA, FGSI, General Secretary Thomas Conlon, MSc, MGSI, Director of Internet Services Aiden Feerick, BA, MAPGI, MGSI, Member of the Society Genealogical Society of Ireland 3 Genealogical Society of Ireland 2. INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCIETY The Society was established in 1990 to promote an awareness, appreciation and knowledge of our genealogical and heraldic heritage in Ireland and amongst her Diaspora. It is devoted to the promotion of the study of genealogy and related subjects as educational leisure pursuits available to all in the community irrespective of age, prior-learning, background, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or socio-economic circumstances by organising two Open Meetings each month throughout the year, lectures, workshops, publishing genealogical material, group projects, exhibiting at major relevant events and the provision of an Archive and Research Centre, An Daonchartlann. The Society encourages its members, undertaking research in every county in Ireland, to make their research available to others through publication. Through its publications programme, the Society makes accessible to researchers at home and abroad many sources otherwise not available except in their original state. The collection and repatriation of genealogical material is an important function of the Society’s Archive and Research Centre. (Pictured above: A Member undertaking research at the Society’s Archives & Research Centre – An Daonchartlann – at the Carlisle Pier, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin) The Society strives to best practice, excellence and high standards in its publications, activities and research and, encourages such amongst its membership at home and overseas. The ‘Principle of Public Ownership and Right of Access’ to our Irish genealogical heritage is the cornerstone of the Society’s national policies on heritage, genealogy and archival matters. The Society is precluded from affiliating with any organisation or group failing to endorse this fundamental principle. [adopted by the Members at the 1997 Annual General Meeting] The Society is an independent not-for-profit voluntary heritage organisation with an Irish and international membership and it is an incorporated body in Ireland with charitable status. It is a Nominating Body for Seanad Éireann and has received a Grant of Arms from the Chief Herald of Ireland. In August 2013 it was elected to membership of FIAV - Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques (International Federation of Vexillological Associations) at the International Congress held at Rotterdam. Genealogical Society of Ireland 4 Genealogical Society of Ireland The Society is the only Irish organisation represented on this prestigious international body with members in over 40 countries around the world. The Society is governed by a Board of Directors elected annually by the members. The Board meets on a monthly basis right throughout the year. As a registered charity in Ireland (CHY 10672), the Society is funded by its members’ subscriptions and kind donations from the general public and from those with Irish ancestry overseas. Annual audited accounts are available on the website of the Companies Registration Office. Membership is open to all interested in genealogy, heraldry, vexillology, social history and related subjects. The Society has two specialised branches – Heraldry Ireland : Araltas Éireann and Vexillology Ireland : Brateolaíocht Éireann and operates an important collaborative academic genetic genealogy project ( Irish DNA Atlas Project ) with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The Society does not accept commercial genealogical research assignments from individuals and routinely directs such enquiries to the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI) and to the various companies providing such services. The Society has proposed the establishment of the ‘Irish Institute of Genealogical and Heraldic Studies’ incorporating the ‘Centre for Diaspora and Migration Studies’ to be located in Dublin as totally new educational and heritage asset for Ireland. The Board of the Society established a Foundation to promote the facility and to seek philanthropic or grant aid funding for this important initiative. For the information of the Committee and in the interest of clarity, although the Society was a founding member of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations (CIGO) and indeed, drafted its original constitution and hosted the inaugural meeting of CIGO on July 9 th 1994 in Dún Laoghaire, differences on public policy matters prevented the Society from renewing its annual membership subscription to CIGO in 1998. Over the past twenty-three years, the Society has encouraged the tabling of Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann; raising matters on the Order of Business in Seanad Éireann; advocating amendments to Bills in both Houses; drafted Bills for presentation to Teachtaí Dála and Seanadóirí; made numerous submissions to State