Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not live that far away from Russborough House and I am well aware of what goes on there. I agree with the Minister that a great job has been done. However, the position is unsustainable, given that the cost of running Russborough House is €1 million per annum and the shortfall is of the order of €400,000. Rather than wringing our hands, An Taisce has come forward with a proposal that offers a solution to break the impasse. I recommend it to the Minister and ask whether she will take seriously the proposal made by Russborough House - to bring together the National Gallery of Ireland and all those interested in the art works to form a formal proposal to save the art works remaining in Russborough House.

On the art works in Christie's, I put it to the Minister that were she to engage directly with the Afred Beit Foundation and, on foot of a commitment from the Government to provide ongoing support - it must be remembered that the foundation has received a lot of Government funding to date - were she and the foundation to approach Christie's, I am sure a negotiated settlement could be arrived at whereby the art works could be recovered, brought back to the State and kept at Russborough House, as intended by Sir Alfred and Lady Beit.

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