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

The sale of these paintings is a matter for the committee of management of the Alfred Beit Foundation which owns and operates Russborough House. My Department has no function in the administration or sale of these art works. However, I did meet on Tuesday night with the chairperson of the Alfred Beit Foundation and two other trustees. I asked the chairperson if it would be possible to delay the sale or consider withdrawing the paintings from auction to provide some time in whcih to explore all other possible options that would involve my Department and the Office of Public Works. The trustees declined to either delay or cancel the sale, citing the fact that they would incur a liability of £1.4 million sterling for breaking an agreement with the auction house handling the sale, with which they entered a contract several months ago. I was only informed last month of the decision on the sale, several months after the foundation had entered into an agreement with the auction house to have the paintings sold. The fact remains that my Department does not have the discretionary funds necessary - believed to be in the order of €12 million - to buy the paintings. I will, however, continue to see if other possible options can be explored. This will be very difficult, given that the sale is to proceed next month.

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