Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2017
43. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the contacts she has had with the auctioneers and owners of the Yeats collection with a view to acquiring this collection; if the State and its cultural institutions has the right of first refusal on the collection; the reason she failed to act in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40515/17]
View answerAs it was not clear whether my earlier question had been selected as a priority question, I submitted this parallel question on the same issue, namely, the sale of the bulk of the Yeats family collection at an international auction. Notwithstanding the Minister's statement that she has acquired some of the items, many of them will, unfortunately, be lost to Ireland. The Minister celebrated her acquisition of some items but there is not much to celebrate given that Yeats was our most famous writer. One can only imagine what will happen to the estates and artefacts of other writers and artists. The Minister agreed with me on treating arts and culture in a mercenary and businesslike manner. The calling card of Fine Gael on the arts has been to ask whether there is money at stake and, if so, to support whatever the issue is. What precisely occurred in respect of the Yeats collection? I presume the Minister will set this out in the reply.
In terms of what we have acquired in the most recent sale of Yeats material, I consulted and have worked for the past nine months with the two relevant cultural institutions, namely, the National Library of Ireland and National Museum of Ireland. They identified the items they believed would add to their Yeats collections and my Department has been able to support them through direct funding and tax credits. As I stated, €4 million has been spent on material associated with Yeats in the past two years, which is a wonderful addition to the existing collection.
As Deputy Burton is aware, resources are limited. There are many different facets to my Department and we must try to spread things around as best we can. In this case, the Yeats collection has been added to greatly.
The Minister and I disagree on that point. My question was whether the Government had the right of first refusal on the Yeats collection. It should be borne in mind that W.B. Yeats and his son Michael were distinguished Members of the Oireachtas. Yeats also did a great deal of work and spent a great deal of time in the National Library. Is it true that the State had first refusal on what are essentially priceless artefacts, papers and documents associated with one of the most famous - if not the most famous - artist Ireland has produced?
The Minister noted that the centenary of commemorations was the inspiration for Creative Ireland. While I accept that point, it should also be noted that the creative imagination that led on 1916 was the poetry of Yeats in English.
The Yeats family has been very supportive of the National Library of Ireland, donating original manuscripts of poems, the personal library of W.B. Yeats and a substantial collection of editions of the poet's work. In 2016, the Nobel medal won by W.B. Yeats was donated via section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 to the National Library of Ireland. In 2017, the family again agreed to donate the Yeats family papers, including the correspondence of John Butler Yeats, via section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, to the National Library of Ireland. Given the family's long relationship with the library, they offered it the opportunity of first refusal to purchase items directly prior to today's auction. The items had all been valued by Sothebys.
In 2016, I approved an additional capital allocation of €518,000 to the National Library of Ireland to purchase the Yeats family library and a set of correspondence between W.B. Yeats and James Joyce. This acquisition complements the W.B. Yeats library.
The National Library and National Museum examined what was on offer and I made funding available. The question that arises is where I should take money from to buy more items. I have limited resources.
The Government is about to spend €150,000 on polling public opinion on a strategic communications unit.
The Deputy knows how the machinery of government works. I am responsible for my Department. The money is well spent.
Arts and culture are about communication. I suggest the €150,000 would have been much better utilised to secure a priceless part of our history.
I can only account for my budget.
