Jim Higgins
Question:9 Mr. J. Higgins asked the asked the Taoiseach, in view of the nation's ocean heritage, if he will consider the establishment of a national marine museum.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - International Maritime Museum.
The National Heritage Council are at present reviewing the entire question of local, regional and specialist museums and I understand this review will include our maritime heritage. The views of the council will be considered in due course.
To some extent I welcome the Taoiseach's reply. Will he agree that, apart from not having a centre to display nautical crafts, curios and so on, it is a pity that some rare maritime specimens found off the Irish coast in Ballisodare, County Sligo and in County Mayo have had to be exhibited at the Ulster Museum because we do not have facilities here?
That is not the entire reason but, as the Deputy probably knows, fairly detailed discussions went on about those artefacts. I would certainly welcome a maritime museum and I would hope that the National Heritage Council will come up with proposals in that regard.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the wreck of the Lusitania which lies in Irish territorial waters off the Old Head of Kinsale is reported to have been looted of many valuable and priceless treasures within the past couple of years? Is he aware that there are no means of detecting or preventing this type of activity? It may be that such looting of wrecks is going on wholesale around the Irish coast.
I inquired some years ago about the Lusitania and I was given to understand that for museum purposes the wreck is not within Irish jurisdiction. I understand that it is just outside the Irish jurisdiction. My information also is that the Lusitania was looted many decades ago and not recently.
No.
I would not quarrel with the Deputy if he suggests that the situation in regard to our maritime heritage is far from satisfactory.
I should like to tell the Taoiseach that the technology needed for this type of activity was not available until recent years. The Lusitania could not have been looted until quite recently.
I do not think that is true.
In view of the fact that artefacts from the Spanish Armada were found off Streedagh Strand, will the Taoiseach ensure that if a maritime museum is to be established it should be in the appropriate place which is along the Sligo coastline.
What about Cork?
Fort Camden is already earmarked for that.