Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reference I made to Limerick and Shannon related to artefacts that were taken some time ago. I understand the theft in question took place long before I took up this office. We are dealing with items that were taken more recently - on Wednesday, 17 April last - from the collections resource centre in Swords. The Garda is investigating the matter. We have issued two communiqués to the national cultural institutions, calling on them to review their security arrangements, already this year. This is ongoing. A review of the National Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Collins Barracks museum has been carried out in conjunction with the Garda Síochána. A review of the Swords facility was due to be carried out next month. I am confident that the arrangements which are in place at the moment will protect the artefacts we have. We have to be vigilant, obviously, because we are dealing with a new and more sophisticated type of criminal. The eight rhinoceros horns stolen in Swords last week were probably taken to supply the illegal trade in powdered horn used in traditional medicines in the Far East, for example. Apparently, there is huge demand in the Far East for powdered horn. I understand the horns stolen last week could achieve a street price of up to €500,000. It is obvious that they were specifically targeted. The authorities at the Natural History Museum removed them from display because they were conscious of the security issues involved. The security arrangements are kept under review. I acknowledge again the work of the Garda Síochána in the case of the artefacts and objects that were stolen from Killarney House. The Garda is making considerable progress.

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