Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Heaney, Dr. White and Ms Scarff for their very interesting contributions to this discussion. I am particularly drawn to Ms Heaney's comment that museums are ripe for new consideration as collectors, curators, spaces of well-being, places of discussion about our future and instruments of community cohesion and education. Does she think that is the kind of thing that should be considered in the context of the legislative reviews she suggested later in her contribution? The legislation that surrounds the national cultural institutions is different in ways and she might speak to the museum legislation. Is there scope for a review of it?

The elements she spoke about with respect to artists and places of culture place the museums in a very good position in terms of budgetary allocations as very active cultural places. I was in Collins Barracks for the Mother Summer Block Party. That is a good example of how our national cultural institutions can engage in the night-time economy. I commend the witnesses for adopting that approach early. Have they made the Department aware of the staffing issues that would come with the recommendations of the nightlife report? How do the NMI's staffing numbers compare with similar museums across Europe or in Scotland or Wales?

I wish to touch on a matter Ms Scarff and I have spoken about previously. Ms Heaney mentioned the Black Lives Matter protests in her contribution. Will she update me on the NMI's strategy to deal with objects that have an colonial past? I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, on this matter in the Seanad. I called on him to step up to the plate to provide resources and funding that may be necessary for the museum's work. Is there a need for Government policy in this area? I will leave it at that as there are only two and half minutes remaining in this time slot.