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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 2

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Chester Beatty Library.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

1 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if, following the revelations in a recent court case concerning the Chester Beatty Library, he has now satisfied himself that all the corrective steps as recommended in the O'Donnell report have been implemented, or are in the course of implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I take this opportunity to wish him well in his artistic responsibilities. I wish to ask two questions arising from this reply. Will the Minister of State say how much the State give as an annual subvention towards this library? Have the trustees agreed to the proposal contained in the O'Donnell report that they should retire when they reach approximately 70 years of age as the present system of oligarchical self-perpetuation is unacceptable?

My Department provided £260,000 in 1991 to meet the current expenditure for the Chester Beatty Library. The library have not yet been advised of their allocation for 1992 but a repeat provision is likely. This compares with a sum of £220,000 for 1989 and 1990, respectively. In reply to the Deputy's second question, according to the O'Donnell report the maximum age limit of 70 was recommended by the consultant. However, as the Deputy may be aware, the subject has not been pursued with the trustees in deference to the chairman. Nevertheless, the trustees have accepted the fixed term appointments as desirable and the four most recent appointees were for a five-year period.

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