Vol. 561 No. 3
148 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if persons (details supplied) had proper legal title to the James Joyce manuscripts which were purchased by the National Library in May 2002 for ?12.6 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4170/03]
These manuscripts were acquired following a lengthy period of negotiations by the director of the National Library with the vendors, taking full account of expert legal and other advice. As part of that process the vendors asserted that they were the legal and beneficial owners of the materials and were entitled to sell them and able to transfer good title to them. The contract for sale entered into with the vendors reflects this position.
