Parliamentary Question addressed to the Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht

To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider setting up a Government committee to prevent the loss of national treasures, similar to a committee operating in the UK, that can place temporary export bans on the most culturally important works following auction to allow local benefactors or museums to match the offers of foreign buyers; and if she will make a statement on the matter?

Reply

My Department has commenced an examination of the issues involved in the commencement of certain provisions in the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 in relation to the export licensing system. I propose to bring this examination to a conclusion shortly. My Department will also examine other alternatives for the longer term.