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

I am very satisfied that the correct governance is in place. There is a board there and the oversight by the board. I cannot interfere with those functions of the museum which are properly those of the board and the director. I cannot get involved in the day-to-day running of the museum. It is not my job to do it and I do not intend to do it. The HR issues to which the Deputy refers are a day-to-day matter for the board and the management of the National Museum of Ireland as an autonomous body.

The new board is in place and I keep in contact with the chair, Catherine Heaney. She is very committed to working to address all of the challenges facing the museum. The museum is not limping along by any means. It welcomed 3.6 million visitors to its four sites last year while 5.5 million visits were made to the National Museum of Ireland website and social media platforms. I note that 10,000 records were placed online while 420,000 people took part in the museum's learning programmes. The museum mounted a wide programme of events including the production of "Pals: the Irish at Gallipoli" with 400 performances seen by 12,000 visitors. It is a very busy place and it is doing well.

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