Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 2

Written Answers. - Book of Kells.

John V. Farrelly

Ceist:

130 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her Department had discussions with Trinity College prior to them making a decision to allow one of the volumes of the Book of Kells to be sent to Australia; if so, when these discussions took place; if, as a result of her Department's intervention in this matter, permission was granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20604/00]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The issue of the temporary export of a volume of the Book of Kells to the National Gallery of Australia was first brought to the attention of my Department in April 1999. Officials of my Department wrote to the Trinity College authorities in May 1999 advising that any proposals in this regard should be cleared in the first instance with my Department.

The Trinity authorities subsequently wrote to me on 22 July 1999 requesting that an export licence be issued by my Department in respect of the temporary export on loan of a volume of the Book of Kells. This application was supported by expert advice from within the college. The views of the Director of the National Museum of Ireland and the Council of National Cultural Institutions – CNCI – were sought. Both the CNCI and the Director of the National Museum advised against granting the export licence.

In November 1999 a Government decision was made to facilitate the application on the understanding that stringent security arrangements would be made in respect of transportation and safekeeping. On foot of this decision my officials wrote to officials of Trinity College Dublin in December 1999 and followed this up with a meeting in January 2000. An application for a temporary export licence was subsequently submitted to my Department by TCD. The licence was granted in February 2000 on completion of a deed of indemnity by the college authorities.