Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his good wishes and kind words. I also am looking forward to working with him.

The National Museum of Ireland is an autonomous body with its own board and, as such, is responsible for all day-to-day operational matters. I, as Minister, have no statutory responsibility in respect of such operational matters, which include the location of monuments on museum sites. However, I have had inquiries made into this matter and understand that the National Museum was not party to any consultation to erect an Irish UN veterans monument on the Collins Barracks site. The museum has advised that Collins Barracks is one of the constituent parts of the museum and functions solely in that capacity to house and display the national collections in its care. The museum has further indicated its view that any interpretation of the previous history of Collins Barracks as a barracks is done in that context only and, accordingly, it would not consider it appropriate to place a monument on the site as proposed.

As the Deputy is aware, military personnel who died on UN service are commemorated by a monument in Merrion Square, on the annual national day of commemoration and by their own respective military barracks. All of those who died, both on military and non-military service with the UN, are commemorated on the annual national day of commemoration. I am advised that consideration of any further such memorial would fall under the purview of the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and Equality and Defence.

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