asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the proposals for the establishment of a museum of modern art in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin 8; if, in respect of such proposals he will indicate the exact size of the collection which would be housed there; the location within the hospital which would be permanently assigned to the collection; the method of the administration that would be allocated to the museum; the appointments, if any, which have been made in relation to personnel who would be involved in the administration of the museum, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Museum of Modern Art.
3.
I have recently established an advisory committee to advise on the permanent arrangements to be made for the establishment and running of the new National Gallery of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham. I have asked the committee to report to me in a matter of weeks on the various issues to be considered, including administrative structure, funding and staffing.
Can the Taoiseach outline the composition of the membership of that committee? May I assist him with a couple of supplementaries and he might like to answer all of them together? Does membership of that committee contain people who are other than civil servants? Are such a committee prepared to accept recommendations and proposals from other groups?
The answer to the last part of the question is "certainly". I emphasise that this is only an interim committee to look into this situation and decide what sort of arrangement should be made. A totally different body, I hope, will be put into place to manage and run the gallery.
I understand that.
It is really a technical committee with Pádraig Ó hUigínn, Secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach; Mr. Pat Murphy who, as the Deputy knows is a member of the Arts Council and Chairman of ROSC; Mr. Gordon Lambert, businessman, art collector and former member of the Arts Council; Miss Dorothy Walker, art critic, Noel de Chenu, Principal Architect, OPW; Mr. Kearney, assistant director, the National Gallery of Ireland and Mr. Tony Cronin, arts adviser to the Department of the Taoiseach.
May I ask the Taoiseach if, in the broad thrust of the inquiries some representations will be sought from Dublin Corporation with regard to the transfer or involvement of the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art at Parnell Square? There has been concern expressed and interest shown by the members of that gallery in the proposal for the establishment of a national gallery of modern art with a view to alleviating some of the overcrowded conditions which exist in that gallery particularly by reason of their more recent modern acquisitions.
I will draw their attention to that matter.
In view of the demarcation difficulties which could arise and the possible duplication of effort, would the Taoiseach consider advising this committee that in making their recommendations they should suggest that in the future running of the National Gallery there should be some membership at least from the existing royal hospital committee.
It is very necessary that there should be cross-fertilisation.