Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Oct 1985

Vol. 361 No. 4

Exhibition of Chinese Figures: Motion.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. Nealon)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the Agreement and Contract for the "Exhibition of Terracotta Figures of Warriors and Horses of the Qin Dynasty, China" which were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 29 October, 1985.

As the Taoiseach has said, we are extremely grateful for the co-operation we have received in regard to this matter. We had hoped to have the exhibition in about one year's time but it became available to us very suddenly from Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago. This represents an enormous saving in costs. The unexpected availability is the reason for introducing this motion speedily.

The terms of the agreement and contract are identical in form and content to those concluded by the Chinese authorities with several other countries in connection with this exhibition, including Britain, Sweden and Austria. These terms were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 29 October and they are in English.

This is an exhibition of what is known as the Emperor's Warriors. It is a major prestige exhibition of one of the most interesting archaeological discoveries of modern times and I am confident that it will be a major attraction. The exhibition will also enable us to open to the public for the first time the restored Royal Hospital at Kilmainham.

Mr. Haughey

Naturally we welcome any cultural development of this kind. I understand the dilemma of the Government in being offered the exhibition at short notice. Again we must take the Government on trust in this matter though I am always suspicious of anything that is rushed through the House at short notice because frequently such acts rebound to someone's disadvantage. However, if the Minister of State assures us that this agreement is in order and is advantageous to us, we have no alternative but to accept that assurance.

When will this exhibition be mounted? What will be its duration? Perhaps the Minister would let us have some further details, if he has these to hand, of what exactly is involved. For the time being at any rate I am prepared to forego the doubts that have been expressed to me as to the ill effects that might be suffered by us by reason of our being party to the disturbing of these figures from their historical resting place in China. I do not know whether the Minister is aware that considerable fears are being expressed as to the terrible things that might happen to anyone who in any way participated in the disturbing of the resting place of these soldiers and warriors from the Qin Dynasty.

Mr. Nealon

I trust that in his latter remarks the Leader of the Opposition is not referring to the terrible things that might happen to him in terms of his lead in the polls.

Mr. Haughey

More than a few Chinese warriors would be required to change that.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the Minister replying?

Mr. Haughey

We are only having a chat.

Mr. Nealon

I am replying. I thought that something of that nature might be perturbing the Deputy because I do not know of any other evil effect that might result from the exhibition of these warriors. I understand that there is that kind of myth surrounding the King Tut and the Tutankhamun exhibition which we had hoped to get at one stage.

Mr. Haughey

There are more things in Heaven and earth than are dreamed of in your philosophy, Horatio.

Mr. Nealon

The figures that will feature in the exhibition date from about 200 BC. They are from the Qin Dynasty and were discovered in 1974 by Chinese farmers digging for water in Xian Province — and are regarded as one of the most exciting, important and remarkable discoveries in the present century and many other centuries. They consisted of a total of 7,500 life sized figures of soldiers and of horses, each of the soldiers cast individually, no two were alike. A total of 33 pieces are being brought here. The figures have been on exhibition in several centres and have proved enormously successful. The figures relate to the period of the first emperor Qin Shihuang. He was the man who began the building of the Great Wall of China and the work on his tomb carried out to his orders represent the second great piece of building for which he was responsible. He was responsible also for major developments in currency and measures for the introduction of a common written language in China.

Mr. Haughey

We on this side of the House are well aware of his record.

Mr. Nealon

The exhibition, as I have said, has been made available to us at very short notice.

Mr. Haughey

Just like the package of economic measures last week.

Mr. Nealon

Following the visit here last year of the Chinese Minister for Culture we organised that the exhibition would come here. I am confident that the exhibition will be of enormous importance. We expect to have the figures here around November 8 but some time further will be required to have the exhibition mounted since we did not have the opportunity of preliminary planning. The exhibition should be mounted around the end of November and will continue until January 10. During a six week period in Edinburgh between 200,000 and 250,000 people visited the exhibition. It was one of the most popular ever held in that city and I am confident that that will be the case here too. The exhibition will be in the hands of the Board of the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham and they intend arranging for conducted tours of the restored hospital building at the same time.

Mr. Haughey

Will admission be free of charge?

Mr. Nealon

As the cost of the exhibition will be enormous there will be a small admission charge. However, we have succeeded in attracting very substantial and generous sponsorship from one company and we are negotiating with a second company for sponsorship so that a good deal of the cost will be offset in that way.

Mr. Haughey

Well done.

Question put and agreed to.