A Bill has been introduced in Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate) by Senator Alex White that aims to establish a sound legislative basis for all Grants of Arms made by the Chief Heralds of Ireland from 1943 and to provide for related matters. The National Library last year stopped the Office of the Chief Herald from making any further awards of arms due to concerns that it had no legal powers to do so. (See my earlier article at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/10/irish-coats-of-.html.)
The proposed new legislation will correct the legal issues. The National Cultural Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2008 can be found at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2008/6608/b6608s.pdf.
