Cultural Property Inventory

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 June 2021

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Questions (109)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

109. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has a policy to ensure the ownership and or copyright of treasures of national significance produced by the genius, talent and labour of ancient Gaelic and medieval Ireland, including important works of art and manuscripts held in care by third-level institutions and private bodies in the State remains with the people of Ireland and the State rather than those institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33633/21]

Written answers

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Cherishing our cultural heritage is one three core principles underpinning Culture 2025: the Cultural Policy Framework to 2025, published in January 2020.  Culture 2025 states that the many and varied cultural repositories, and the organisations that manage and support them, public, private, and voluntary, are essential in documenting, curating, collecting and preserving our cultural heritage. It acknowledges that these institutions, which include museums, galleries, libraries, archives and collections, have a key role in supporting our citizens’ engagement with their culture and heritage, delivering cultural services and shaping and contributing to public cultural policy.   Within this overarching policy framework, arrangements are in place regarding the ownership and copyright of items of national cultural importance held in the national collections and by third level institutions and private bodies in the State.