Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 4

Other Questions. - Library Artefacts.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

17 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on the recent suggestion made by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Mr. Meles Zenawi, that priceless religious manuscripts which found their way to Ireland after being looted by the British Army in Ethiopia in the 19th century should possibly be returned to his country; her further views on a shared arrangement in regard to these artefacts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6792/02]

Miss de Valera

My understanding is that the Deputy is referring to a newspaper report of remarks made at the prompting of a journalist during the visit by the Ethiopian Prime Minister to the Chester Beatty Library. I can confirm that no formal request regarding the return of religious manuscripts as referred to has been received by my Department. However, should any such request be received, I will be very happy to pursue the identification of whatever Ethiopian material is held in State possession in Ireland and consider the legal status of such material in the context of pursuing maximum cultural co-operation between Ireland and Ethiopia. In this connection the collections in the Chester Beatty Library are the property of the Chester Beatty Library Trust. In relation to any claim to ownership of any artefacts in State possession, a high standard of proof would clearly be required to substantiate the claim.

For the Deputy's information, a catalogue of material held by the Chester Beatty Library was published some 40 years ago. Microfilm copies of the material were provided for the University of Addis Abbaba in Ethiopia.

Mr. O'Shea

I thank the Minister for her reply. There is a positive element in what she says. I understand from the newspaper article that one manuscript in the Chester Beatty Library is definitely of Ethiopian origin and was plundered from Magdala in the mid-1800s. If this is the case and the manuscript is clearly the property of the Ethiopian people, what is the Minister's view in that instance?

Miss de Valera

There has been no formal request to my Department on this issue, but if a formal request were to be made, whether regarding the manuscript to which the Deputy refers or another artefact, I would be happy to pursue the identification of Ethiopian material in State possession and consider its legal status. This will be done in a context of mutual respect and in the hope of promoting further cultural co-operation between Ethiopia and Ireland.

Mr. O'Shea

Would the Minister be willing to contact the Ethiopian Prime Minister to repeat what she said here and to indicate that she would welcome and pursue an application for the return or sharing of or whatever other arrangement there might be for the artefact? The Minister will be aware that a church in Scotland has returned a sacred object to Ethiopia.

Miss de Valera

There are always certain procedures to be followed in such situations. We are going on newspaper reports and I know from experience, as do most Deputies in the House, that one cannot always rely on the accuracy of such reports. If a request is made directly and formally to the Department, I will examine the situation.

Mr. O'Shea

Can the Minister establish whether this manuscript came from Ethiopia and if it was plunder for the British Army at that time?

Miss de Valera

I can make inquiries to that end.