The court case in question has not yet been fully disposed of by the court and the proceedings will be resumed on 23 July next. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to comment on it until it has been concluded.
Considerable progress has been made since the completion of the O'Donnell report in developing the full potential of the Chester Beatty Library. In particular, improved management and staffing structures have been put in place. New equipment to ensure the highest conservation standards is being installed in the storage areas and inventory control and cataloguing is being undertaken on a systematic basis. There is an ongoing review between the Garda and representatives of the library, the Office of Public Works as well as my Department to ensure that security installations, practices and procedures at the library are of the highest order. I can assure the House that my officials will continue to liaise closely with the library's recently-appointed director to ensure that its unique collections are maintained and exhibited to best advantage for the public benefit.