Vol. 497 No. 3
44 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, she has in respect of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997; the sections of the Act which have been implemented; the timetable for completion of implementation in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24843/98]
My intentions regarding the implementation of the National Cultural Institions Act were stated in my reply to Question No. 715 of 28 January last. The principal objective of the Act is to accord the National Museum of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland autonomy as set out in the provisions of Part II of the Act. In so far as resources in my Department and in the institutions concerned allow, work is ongoing so as to enable this part of the Act to be brought into force efficiently and effectively in the year 2000.
The following parts and-or sections of the Act have already been implemented: — Part I, except sections 4 and 6 in respect of other sections not yet implemented and section 7; sections 14, 26, 34, 35, 36 and 41 of Part II in so far as they relate to the National Gallery of Ireland and section 20, except subsection 4, in so far as it relates to Marsh's Library; Part III; in Part IV sections 47, 48, Register of Important Cultural Objects for items in the care of the National Gallery of Ireland and of the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, 49 and 50 — most of the subsections on export provisions concerning items on the register and archaeological items; all of Part VI; and Part VII sections 62, 63, 64, 68 except for subsections 1 and 2(b) and 69.
As I mentioned earlier I hope to commence Part II of the Act in the year 2000. The remaining sections of the Act will be commenced as required and as appropriate.
