Vol. 398 No. 1
8 Mr. Nealon asked the Taoiseach if an unpublished poem by W. B. Yeats Inscription for a Christmas Card in the poet's own handwriting has disappeared from the National Library collection; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The director of the National Library recently notified my Department that a small greeting card, containing the text of an unpublished poem by W. B. Yeats, could not be located. The director of the library advises that it is not clear whether it has been misplaced or stolen. The matter is being investigated. The item in question was microfilmed about 1970 and so the text is available.
I will not ask the Taoiseach to recite the poem. Could I ask if any social additional security has been put in place in the National Library arising out of this loss and indeed the loss of valuable maps not so long ago?
As the Deputy knows, I have outlined recently to the Dáil a whole range of new security measures and a new regime which is being implemented now in the National Library. This greeting card, the loss of which is deeply regretted, almost certainly went missing before the new regime had been installed.
