asked the Minister for Finance the present location of the portraits of General Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith and Kevin O'Higgins and the date on which they were removed to their present location.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leinster House Portraits.
21.
The three portraits are at present in the Central Furniture Stores of the Office of Public Works. They were moved there in July, 1963.
I would like to reject emphatically the implications of this and other questions and statements that there was some sinister motive in removing these portraits. They were taken down on my instructions in July, 1963, and the expert requested to examine the canvases with a view to cleaning them was unable to do so until recently, due to illness.
The portraits were accepted by the Ceann Comhairle, the late Mr. Frank Fahy, in 1944, with the approval of the Government. They were hung in the Post Office Lobby in Leinster House until 1949, when they were re-hung in their most recent location, on the instructions of the then Government.
In October, 1956, a requisition was made by the Clerk of the Dáil to have the paintings cleaned and, in this connection, an estimate was received for £11. The then Minister for Finance, however, decided that due to the serious economic conditions prevailing at that time he would not be justified in approving of this estimate.
The cleaning of the portraits was subsequently sanctioned in June, 1957 by the present Minister for Finance.
The Government have decided that when the present main entrance hall is re-designed, portraits of the seven members of the Cabinet of 1921 will be hung there. These members were: Éamon de Valera, Robert Barton, Cathal Brugha, Michael Collins, William T. Cosgrave, Arthur Griffith and Austin Stack. Portraits of all these members have been completed. It is intended that the frames of all portraits in Leinster House will be uniform in design, and this, and the question of removing glass from all oil portraits, is under consideration.
It is hoped that in the near future the portraits of Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith and Kevin O'Higgins may be re-hung temporarily in the previous location, together with portraits of Cathal Brugha and Austin Stack.
Is it not the situation that you, as Ceann Comhairle of this House, are responsible for the arrangements made within the precincts of the House and that this is a matter outside the ambit of the authority of the Government of the time being ?
Why was the question put to the Minister for Finance, then ?
I am now putting a question to the Ceann Comhairle and want no assistance from the Tánaiste.
It is quite obvious that you require it. You do not know where you are.
Is it not a fact that this is a matter primarily within your jurisdiction as the designing officer of this House? Perhaps you would give the matter thought, Sir?
Arising out of the Deputy's rhetorical question——
I addressed no question to the Parliamentary Secretary.
—— I should like to clear up the further confusion which Deputy Dillon is trying to create. I should like to point out that there is a precedent where the Ceann Comhairle of this House was not consulted by members of the Coalition Government in the past and they took action without consulting either the Ceann Comhairle or the Committee of Procedure and Privileges with regard to the hanging of portraits in this House.
Is it not a fact that because the portrait of Michael Collins was hanging in the most important and prominent part of this house there has been a deliberate attempt to remove that a portrait in order to make way for a portrait of Éamon de Valera and it did not work? That is all that is to it.
Does the Deputy remember what he said about Michael Collins in 1932?
Go home and look after your grandchildren.
Order. Question No. 22.