Vol. 402 No. 5
1 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach the programme or plans he intends to initiate to assist the National Museum of Ireland during 1991 for Dublin's year as European City of Culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach the programme or plans he intends to initiate to assist the National Art Gallery during 1991 for Dublin's year as European City of Culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach the programme or plans he intends to initiate to assist the National Library during 1991 for Dublin's year as European City of Culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 3 together.
Programmes of activities by the National Museum, National Library and National Gallery, to mark the occasion of Dublin European City of Culture 1991 have been formulated. I am circulating details in the Official Report.
Arrangements are being made by the individual institutions to put these programmes into operation and the costs will be met from voted funds or sponsorship as appropriate.
I am confident that these activities by our important cultural institutions will make a major contribution to the celebrations in Dublin 1991.
Programme of Activities at the Major Cultural Institutions 1991
The National Museum of Ireland.
The National Museum of Ireland will be actively involved with the following special events to mark Dublin's honour as Cultural Capital of European for 1991: (a) in the summer of 1991, the presentation of a new permanent exhibition of the magnificent collection of Bronze Age goldwork. This exhibition will not only highlight the best known pieces from the collection such as the Gleninsheen Collar but will also show for the first time some new acquisitions such as the dress fastener from Iry, County Laois. The exhibition will also include for a short period some important Irish pieces now housed in museums abroad thus allowing the public a unique opportunity to see the wealth and variety of Irish gold which has survived from c. 2000 BC-500 BC; (b) the exhibition to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the 1916 Rising, The Road to Independence. This exhibition outlines the background to the 1916 Insurrection, the events of Easter Week itself, the aftermath and the War of Independence which followed; (c) other public events such as (i) Upstairs/Downstairs, Grattan's Dublin, an exhibition at 29 Fitzwilliam Street in conjunction with the ESB commencing 1 May and (ii) an exhibition of scientific instruments covering such topics as surveying, optics, astronomy and measurement in its various forms. The instruments are in the main Irish, most of them dating to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In all, over 50 instruments — compasses, telescopes, microscopes, octants, theodolites, protractors and sundials — will be on view.
It is also intended to commence work in 1991 on the extension to the National Museum to be provided at the Custom House Docks.
The National Gallery of Ireland.
The programme of exhibitions during 1991 will include the refurbishment — a £5 million scheme — of the 1968 extension undertaken during 1991 but this will not deter the ambitious programme of exhibitions: (a) in January the gallery will be exhibiting its collection of watercolours by J. M. W. Turner; (b) in February/March, there will be an exhibition focusing on the work of Irish stuccodores and especially on their use of engravings as a source for the motifs employed in their work; (c) at Easter, an exciting collection of drawings and watercolours, "Views of Rome" from the Thomas Ashby Collection in the Vatican Library will be exhibited; (d) the big summer show in June-July will provide an opportunity to explore the range and quality of the work of Nathanial Hone the Younger (1831-1917); and (e) three further exhibitions have been scheduled for the remaining months of 1991 and information about them will be released in due course.
The National Library of Ireland.
The programme of activities will include (i) an information video on the library and its facilities; (ii) an exhibition "Treasures of the National Library", to mark the opening of the Exhibition Hall; (iii) other public events — the "Faces of Writers" exhibition to coincide with the International Writers' Festival; an exhibition to commemorate Charles Stewart Parnell; and (iv) the library will be host to the prestigious US based Manuscripts Association during their visit in May 1991.
I understand the Taoiseach will be circulating the programmes.
Can he comment on whether any of the programmes in any of the three national institutions for which he has primary responsibility has been curtailed or cut back in any way by reason of stringencies in his Department with regard to the allocation of funds?
No.
Would the Taoiseach indicate in general terms the extent to which he or his Department have allocated money specifically for projects included in the programme? Could he indicate to what extent the programme for the typical year of each of these institutions will be enhanced or developed to recognise that we are having such an important cultural year in Dublin?
The Deputy should read the programmes for the three institutions. I think he will be satisfied that they will represent a significant contribution to the year. The finances of these institutions will be considered in the context of the Estimates. It is a mix because some of these functions are being sponsored and to that extend are not a matter for me.
I am at a disadvantage in not having the specifics. I am confined to the general. Will the Taoiseach confirm that some of the difficulties such as personnel shortages, the necessity for the National Library to shorten the hours of availability and difficulties regarding exhibition space in the National Gallery and the National Museum, will be attended to so that throughout the year these important institutions will be at their best?
Subject as always to the financial exigencies, that is the ambition.
