Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013
347. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to develop a permanent exhibition to the Famine in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42311/13]
View answer349. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to establish an official record database of the Famine in the National Museum of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42313/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 349 together.
I refer the Deputy to my previous answers in this regard. I have been advised by the National Museum of Ireland that it collects material of national and regional importance where a connection with the Great Famine is verifiable. I understand that the Museum is in possession of a number of objects relating to the Famine that are categorized broadly into collections but that there are no plans at this time to develop and mount a permanent exhibition.
The Deputy will appreciate that matters such as the determination of exhibitions and/or the establishment of official databases are day-to-day operational matters for the National Museum and that I, as Minister, have no statutory responsibility in relation to such matters.
