Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I wish to make a short statement on the incident at the Natural History Museum this morning. Late this morning, part of a limestone stairs in the private part of the Natural History Museum fractured and collapsed. Some 21 primary teachers attending a science appreciation course were in that part of the building at the time. A number of those attending were in the vicinity of the stairs. The museum immediately notified the emergency services, tended to the injured, evacuated and closed the building. I understand 11 people were injured. The emergency services, museum safety staff and gardaí were immediately on the scene. I am grateful for their swift response. As soon as I was informed of the tragedy, I visited the museum together with the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Noel Ahern, to see the extent of the incident and offer whatever help we could. I was briefed by the director of the museum and I requested that the museum should remain closed and be subjected to a rigorous structural and safety audit, which he will now commence.

The emergency services were on the scene within minutes and the injured were taken to St. James's, St. Vincent's and the Mater hospitals. The public part of the museum was immediately evacuated and the museum's emergency plan was fully activated. Pending a full health and safety audit by the Health and Safety Authority, and other relevant authorities, the Natural History Museum will remain closed to visitors for the foreseeable future.

At this juncture, I am glad to say I have been informed that none of the injuries is life threatening. The director of the museum, its board, and the Department will continue to monitor developments. On behalf of everybody in the House, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to those who were injured, and to their families. I wish them a speedy and full recovery.

See this speech in context