I wish to declare a personal interest in the Asgard project. There is a deep emotional tie between my home area in Donegal and the Asgard. On that fateful voyage from the North Sea to Howth there were two men from Gola Island, Gweedore, on board – Charlie Doogan and Patrick McGinley – both experienced fishermen who navigated a safe passage. I would be in favour of conservation, preservation or even restoration. I advocated such an approach in the past – indeed, I think I was in touch with the Minister. However, the present plan is neither – it is a reproduction and it will leave us with a mere replica of the original craft.
It is widely recognised that the Asgard is one of our national treasures and played an important and significant role in the emergence of this nation as an independent State. Not only is the yacht a national treasure but it is ranked among the most famous yachts in the world, a unique and significantly important vessel in an international context. Indeed, the Attorney General has declared the vessel an archaeological object within the meaning of the National Monuments Acts, 1930-94. Work to conserve or restore it can be undertaken only under a licence to alter, which has already been issued by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to the Asgard restoration project.
The licence was issued by the Minister under the most dubious circumstances and has generated wide dismay and concern within the maritime, archaeological and heritage communities of these islands. To assess the licence application and for specialist advice on the implication of the proposal, the Minister consulted statutory bodies such as the Heritage Council and the National Museum of Ireland. I understand Mr. John Kearnon, Head of Shipkeeping, National Museums and Galleries of Merseyside, was engaged as a specialist consultant. I understand the unanimous advice given to the Minister by the said bodies was to refuse the application.
There were a number of important reasons for tendering this advice. First, the proposal to restore the Asgard to sailing condition would entail the removal of at least 80% of the original vessel and perhaps significantly more. She can never again be the yacht that Erskine Childers sailed. She will be but a replica with some of the fittings of the Asgard and her historical and structural significance would be greatly reduced in status. Second, the restoration plan in its present form is contrary to the Minister's own published policy guidelines. In her policy document, Framework and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage, preservation is the first priority and any form of removal or destruction of elements of the heritage must be the very last option availed of in the event of absolute necessity only. Third, for similar reasons any decision to allow such extensive restoration is in breach of the Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage, 1992, ratified by Ireland in 1997. Ireland is bound to fulfil the terms of the convention. Fourth, the Asgard was built as a gentleman's sailing yacht designed for a small complement of perhaps a maximum of five or six people. It is, therefore, unsuitable for use as a sail training vessel. The nature and scale of the vessel would make her virtually inaccessible to the public were she returned to sail.
Despite all those valid reasons, the Minister took the unprecedented step of instructing her officials to issue a licence to alter. Does the Minister or, indeed, the Cabinet understand the enormity of what is proposed? This national treasure, a part of our maritime heritage, is being desecrated. Should the Government allow the proposed destruction of the Asgard it would sanction an extraordinary act of cultural vandalism involving an internationally important heritage object.
Other than the experts and the officials who have advised the Minister, the voices of those who would wish to see the Asgard maintained as near as possible to the original have not yet been heard. It is certain that when the reality of the proposal sinks in, there will be growing opposition at home and abroad. The decision by the Minister to take the unprecedented step of making her decision contrary to the advice of statutory bodies, consultants and officials leaves many questions unanswered.
I earnestly request the Minister to call a halt to this project. When one considers from where the Minister is coming, one would expect her to have a deeper understanding of the value and significance of one of our great national treasures. When one considers from where the Minister is coming, one would expect her to have a deeper understanding of the value and significance of one of our great national treasures.Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera): Asgard Restoration Project Limited, ARP, is a private company established to restore the Asgard to full sailing condition. The Asgard is an historically important ketch in view of its use for gun running by the Irish Volunteers in 1914. It has an importance also in the broader marine context due to the fact that the vessel is a prime example of the small number of gentlemen's yachts extant from the 32 designed, and four built, by the internationally acclaimed Colin Archer. Ownership of the vessel, which has been located in Kilmainham Gaol since 1968, is vested in the Minister for Defence.
In 1998 the Minister for Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, proffered IR£250,000 to ARP towards its project to restore the Asgard to full seagoing condition, subject to the group obtaining a “Licence to Alter” the vessel from my Department under the National Monuments Acts. In this context, a decision was required as to the nature of the treatment that would be carried out on the vessel. There were two options in respect of these works: to stabilise and conserve the vessel and confine it to a static role, housed as an exhibit, or to restore the vessel to its former glory and facilitate its return to the sea.
In view of the vessel's place in Irish history, I decided to consult my colleagues in Government on the matter. The Cabinet agreed that the preservation of the memory of the Asgard would be best served through the vessel's restoration to full sailing condition. Accordingly, a licence under the National Monuments Acts was issued in December 1999, subject to a number of conditions and requirements. I stress that this was a Government decision.
Recently, ARP requested that it be given possession of the vessel in order to move it from Kilmainham Gaol to the RDS Boat Show, where it was to be used for fundraising in respect of the restoration works. The Minister for Defence agreed to this removal and, in that light, my Department approved the proposal for the storage of the vessel, provided that suitable insurance cover was provided, as well as appropriate accommodation acceptable to the National Museum of Ireland.
With regard to the current location of the vessel, the National Museum of Ireland has informed the group that the location and security of the vessel is unacceptable. I understand ARP has indicated that it will redress the situation. While I am concerned about the present situation and I am fully aware of the national importance of the Asgard, the National Museum of Ireland, my Department and I will continue to monitor the vessel closely.
The Dáil adjourned at 5.25 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 1 May 2001.