Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2015
657. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will halt the sale of valuable artworks bequeathed to the people of Ireland by the Beit Foundation; and if she will support an alternative financial plan for keeping Russborough House in County Wicklow open. [24610/15]
View answer660. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will intervene in the sale of the Alfred Beit art collection; if she will report on discussions held with the Alfred Beit Foundation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24723/15]
View answer661. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the proposed sale of the Russborough Estate's Rubens and others paintings; if so, if she will halt these sale proceedings, including the sale of these items; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24927/15]
View answer662. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the sale of art and artefacts from the Beit collection; if she will intervene to prevent the sale of any further artworks or artefacts from the collection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25017/15]
View answer666. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the export licences issued for paintings, such as the Beit Foundation paintings proposed for sale in the United Kingdom in June and July 2015, if she will identify, specifically and explicitly, the mechanism and exact legislative provision that was used to delegate export licensing authority to the National Gallery of Ireland in April 1985, or at any other time, pursuant to the powers in the Documents and Pictures (Regulation of Export) Act 1945; if she will identify, specifically and explicitly, any other relevant legislative provisions authorising the National Gallery of Ireland to lawfully issue such export licences; if she will identify the authority that is entitled to issue export licences for paintings such as those as the Beit Foundation paintings proposed for sale in the United Kingdom in July 2015, and the legislative provisions that apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25120/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 657, 660 to 662, inclusive, and 666 together.
As I stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1 of 18 June last, the sale of these paintings is a matter for the committee of management of the Alfred Beit Foundation, which owns and operates Russborough House. My Department has no function in relation to the administration or sale of these artworks.
When I met with trustees of the Alfred Beit Foundation last week, I asked them to delay the sale of the artworks, so other options could be explored. While conscious and respectful of the independence of the Foundation, my clear preference is for these artworks to be kept in Ireland, if possible.
I am pleased, therefore, that the Chair of the Foundation has decided to propose to the Foundation board to postpone the sale, in light of my request and the emergence of Irish donors who are considering the purchase of some of the artworks. I understand that this would involve the donation of artworks to an Irish cultural institution using section 1003 tax relief. This is welcome. I also welcome the fact that the Foundation proposes to enter negotiations with the auction house handling the sale.
It is important to note that, while funding constraints remain, the tax relief provided by the Government under section 1003 of the Finance Act continues to provide a generous mechanism to enable artworks, which would otherwise have left the State, to be kept here. The postponement of the sale would allow the necessary breathing space to explore how this mechanism can assist in this case.
I appreciate the significant challenges which face those who seek to maintain our major historic houses, such as Russborough. I intend to engage with my Government colleagues, including the Minister of State at the OPW, and other State agencies, to consider how we can work together to safeguard the future of Russborough.
As Minister with responsibility for Heritage, I am also committed to finding sustainable solutions for the wider historic houses sector. The Steering Group on Historic Houses, which I established several months ago, is due to report to me shortly with proposals in relation to action points that would assist in protecting and promoting this sector into the future.
The National Gallery, by administrative arrangement since 1985, has operated the export licensing system for paintings, under the Documents and Pictures (Regulation of Export) Act 1945, since it was delegated to the Director of the Gallery by the then Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with responsibility for the Arts. Matters relating to export licensing arrangements are currently being examined by my Department.
