National Gallery

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2015

Thursday, 25 June 2015

Ceisteanna (257, 258, 259)

Anne Ferris

Ceist:

257. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the issue of any remuneration or payment of any fees to the current or previous directors of the National Gallery in connection with their positions as board members of the Alfred Beit Foundation, paid either by the National Gallery or the Alfred Beit Foundation, has been discussed during the quarterly liaison meetings between her Department officials and the senior management team of the National Gallery, at any time since 1974; the content of any such discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25554/15]

Anne Ferris

Ceist:

258. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a list of her Department or Government circulars relevant to the appointment and remuneration of the director of the National Gallery; the extent to which participation in other corporate structures by the director is facilitated by the terms and conditions of employment, as sanctioned by her Department; if, while travelling to or attending meetings of the Alfred Beit Foundation, the director may be paid salary and expenses by the National Gallery or the Alfred Beit Foundation; if any cost incurred by the National Gallery in supplying a board member to the Alfred Beit Foundation is recoverable from the foundation either through direct payment to the director or to the National Gallery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25555/15]

Anne Ferris

Ceist:

259. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the subject of the export licensing or private sale by the trustees of the Alfred Beit Foundation of a painting by Jacques de Lajoue entitled, the "Cabinet of Physical Sciences" has been discussed at any of the quarterly liaison meetings between her Department officials and the senior management team of the National Gallery of Ireland, or indeed the export licensing and-or sale of any of the Alfred Beit Foundation trust assets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25556/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 259, inclusive, together.

I am advised that, since the establishment of my Department on 2 June 2011, my Department has not discussed the issues referred to in the Deputy’s Questions with the National Gallery at the quarterly liaison meetings.

Ongoing matters relating to the contract and duties of the Director of the National Gallery are in the first instance an operational matter for the Board of the National Gallery.