John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

This matter was first brought to my attention by people working in the Parknasilla Great Southern Hotel. Subsequently I read that Deputy Higgins had also raised the matter. Following upon the discussion I had with some staff members in the Parknasilla Great Southern Hotel, I wrote to the chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority, advising him of the wonderful collection that was in the Parknasilla Great Southern Hotel. I stated to him that some of that art had been removed recently with a view to its possible sale on the market. I pointed out that there was a circular from the Department of Transport some years ago which specified that in the event of art valued at more than €10,000 being put on the market by a State entity, the State through either the OPW or the national collecting institutions, must be given first option on that art.

I also stated that I understood that receipt of this notification was acknowledged at the time by the commercial State companies, including the then Aer Rianta. I also pointed out that I understood that some of those paintings may be jointly owned by the Arts Council and that the paintings included some by Arthur Armstrong, Norah McGuinness, Daniel O'Neill, George Campbell, Gerard Dillon and others. I asked what was the intention of the Dublin Airport Authority in respect of those paintings and whether it was the intention to put those paintings on the market and if so, what plans existed to give the national collecting institutions first option on what I regarded as these heritage works.

I received a reply from the Dublin Airport Authority, dated 16 June in which it was stated that some paintings had been removed by art specialists de Vere in order to have them properly valued, these being the precise words used. The reply also stated that as a natural matter of course the Dublin Airport Authority would comply fully with all relevant State guidelines and would consult the relevant Ministers and the Arts Council as necessary regarding the future of thepaintings.

Deputy Higgins and I have discussed this issue in which we both have a great interest. These works of art are part of our national heritage and belong to the people. They should not be disposed of for short-term pecuniary gain and they should be returned to the national collecting institutions and the OPW which will retain them in public ownership for continued public viewing and enjoyment. The sale of these works is completely at variance with the original intent of the scheme which was to provide a platform at that time for Irish artists to display their works. God knows they had little enough places to display their work or customers to which to sell them.

It was never the intention of the scheme that the public bodies involved should seek to exploit these works which are part of the heritage of this nation and which in truth and in justice are the property of the Irish nation. I have set in train an inquiry through the Arts Council and through the Dublin Airport Authority to ascertain which of these are jointly owned by the Arts Council and CIE as it then was, which of these have been disposed of and where they are located. These relevant questions have been put into the process which I hope will yield the necessary results. Like Deputy Higgins I am extremely sceptical that the list on the catalogue is exhaustive which is impossible to believe.

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