Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2010
517 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if in respect of items 25 and 26 of annex D of budget 2009, if these actions have been completed; if not, the date by which they are expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12478/10]
View answerThe legislation that is required to give affect to the decision to merge the Irish Manuscripts Commission and the National Archives into the National Library of Ireland is being prepared. As stated in my recent responses to similar questions, Heads of a Bill have been drafted and transmitted to the Directors of the National Archives and of the National Library of Ireland and to the Chairman of the Irish Manuscripts Commission for their observations. I intend that the legislation will be introduced in the House this year.
As I have already indicated, in relation to the proposal to combine the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Crawford Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Ireland while retaining separate identities, I believe that the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery should remain stand alone entities and that the Crawford can be amalgamated with the National Gallery. I would hope to formalise this in the near future.
