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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 Apr 1986

Vol. 365 No. 7

Written Answers. - Treasure Trove.

26.

asked the Taoiseach the number of cases of treasure trove reported to the State over the past five years; if there is any evidence to support the view that finds are going unreported and that rare artefacts are finding their way on to the international market.

The number of cases of treasure trove reported to the National Museum, which acts as the State's agent in this matter, over the past five years is as follows:

1981

4

1982

5

1983

2

1984

2

1985

2

1986

(to date)

2

There is concern that not all finds are being reported to the National Museum but obtaining evidence of breaches of the law of this type is understandably difficult and all rumoured cases are investigated. Artefacts of Irish origin are occasionally offered for sale in other countries. It does not follow that all of these were illegally exported. These artefacts are examined by the National Museum and efforts are made whenever appropriate to purchase them.

Evidence of the recent unlicensed export for sale of two lots of important archaeological objects (not treasure trove) is being actively examined by the Irish antiquities division of the National Museum. In one case, the initiation of legal proceedings has been requested by the museum authorities and in the other, litigation is being considered.

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