asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the general concern which is felt at the sale of books and documents from the King's Inns Library, he will introduce legislation to amend the Documents and Pictures (Regulations of Exports) Act, 1945 so that such material may not be sold abroad except under licence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Books and Documents.
38.
I am arranging to have the terms of the Documents and Pictures (Regulation of Exports) Act, 1945 reviewed with a view to ascertaining whether amending legislation might be desirable of feasible.
Pending the review, will the Minister ensure that in any discussions he may have with the Benchers of the King's Inns he will emphasise that no further sales should take place?
I do not know whether I have any power in that respect.
Cannot the Minister talk?
How long will it be before the result of the review is available?
The situation in relation to the review is that even when I have reviewed the matter it may not be desirable or feasible to amend the Act. The fundamental issue that would arise would be in relation to the ownership and disposal of private property. That would have to be taken into account——
National assets, not merely private property.
——in considering any changes in the Act.
Is it not the position that there is power to restrict the export of articles that are considered to be of national interest or special value? I am sure there is such power in relation to objects of art. Would it not be possible to consider extending this to cover books and documents?
Documents are covered. Exports of such articles can be restricted by the Minister refusing to grant an export licence but I do not think that a Minister could refuse to grant a licence and then leave the matter at that. The obvious course would be that if the Minister were to refuse an export licence, either he would have to be prepared to buy the articles concerned or to have some State agency buy them.
Hear, hear.
This, of course, would raise the question of priorities in relation to the amount of money available.
Is the Minister saying that national assets would be low on the priority list?