asked the President if the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland have just appointed a gentleman to be Director of the Gallery, and if, having regard to the importance to Ireland of the post and to the widespread disapproval which the announcement of the appointment has caused, the President is prepared to endorse and ratify the choice of the Board.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL GALLERY.
The appointment of a Director of the National Gallery rests with the Board of Governors, which is a statutory body and are representative of the Art Institutions and art lovers of the country. There is no question of ratification or endorsement of the appointment by me.
Does the President mean to say that he has got nothing to say to the appointment?
Yes.
Is the President aware that the gentleman proposed to be appointed has not been recommended——
If the President has nothing to say to the appointment he cannot answer.
Arising out of that answer, surely some Minister is responsible for the appointment of the person who will be paid out of public funds, and, if so, to what Minister should we address our enquiries?
I have stated that the Board of Governors is a statutory body. The Minister is not responsible any more than if the present judicial system were to prevail; it would not be the business of a Minister to interfere with the appointment by the Lord Chief Justice of a person in the Courts.
Is the President aware that this gentleman will have at his disposal for expenditure a sum of £2,500 a year of public money?
It depends on the Vote of the Dáil. I do not think the sum is £2,500; I think it is £1,000, but if the Deputy persists in saying it is £2,500, I will accept his statement.
Would not the Minister have the right to control the appointment of a gentleman who would have at his disposal such a large sum of money? I think it is rather strange if he would not.
May I ask a further question with regard to the answer of the President? In the Bill before us the Minister for Education is put in charge of the National Gallery. Are we to take it that the salary of any person appointed will be on the Estimates, and, therefore, can be discussed?
I think it is a fair question, though I do not think it arises out of the original question put by the Deputy. I believe the salary will be on the Estimates, and it is open to the Dáil to refuse to pass it and to refuse to pay if it so desires.