Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire. Is lá an-tábhachtach é seo agus is díospóireacht an-tábhachtach atá ar siúl againn maidir leis na pictiúir seo. Ardaíonn an díospóireacht seo na rudaí gur cóir dúinn a bheith ag díriú orthu - ceisteanna polasaithe.

We are here today in an effort to protect our history, heritage, culture and art. The sale of the Beit paintings is without doubt another example of carelessness, lack of Government policy, political direction and legislative framework. It is imperative that the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht do more to prevent further sales of any of these paintings, which were bequeathed to the people of Ireland. They are not a cash cow to be sold off for the upkeep of a deteriorating old stately home. In a letter to my colleague, Deputy McLellan, the writer stated that the paintings alone are worth more to this country than any money they provide for the bottomless pit that is a piece by piece repair of the house. We will never be in a position to purchase the likes of these paintings again. What sort of message does this episode send out to future artists? What sort of message does it send out to potential benefactors who might wish to bequeath their collections to the nation? The writer continues that if these paintings continue to be sold no future benefactor will bequeath their collection of art to the people of Ireland ever again. There are many out there who say this is a trivial matter but it is not. It is far from that. This is about our history and heritage. It is about a collection of paintings, which were entrusted to the Alfred Beit Foundation by Alfred and Lady Beit for the future enjoyment of the Irish people. The first two paintings from the collection at Russborough House were sold at auction in London yesterday. Was this for the enjoyment of the Irish people? What is happening now is an insult to our citizens and what is more it is an insult to future generations. Here the Government stands complicit in the selling off of history. This art collection is a treasured wealth. It is our inheritance and so it should be our children’s inheritance. A concerted effort should be made by this Government to keep these paintings in Ireland to preserve our history. The trust that runs Russborough House said it approached the Government twice in 2013 seeking support. It also specifically highlighted the need to sell some Beit collection paintings if assistance was not provided. There is no doubt that the State has had a massive part to play in the situation which is currently unfolding. The statutory Heritage Council has had its funding cut from €22 million annually to €7 million. What message does this send out to future artists?

Fintan O’Toole has probably put the argument most succinctly in an article:

This is not a story about individual villains, but about public policy. It is easy to have sympathy with Judith Woodward and her board at Russborough, who have been left in charge of a great house and a major art collection with no plan for their maintenance and development.

Woodworth herself pointed to this unsustainability in The Irish Times (June 1st). The dilemma she articulated is real. But funding Russborough by selling off its treasures is not sustainable, either. It’s the kind of short-term panic measure that comes to seem acceptable only in a vacuum of public policy.

He goes on to outline three vacuums in policy which we think are worthy of debate:

There’s an absence of official thought on the future of places such as Russborough. . . . The legislative framework is a mess . . .[That has been alluded to.] The Dáil actually passed legislation as far back as 1997 to provide criteria under which export licences for artworks could be refused. . . . Thirdly, of course, there is a vacuum of political direction from the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, an arm of government that has more or less gone to seed under the present Government.

Tuigeann muid go bhfuil deacrachtaí faoi leith maidir leis an díolachán seo agus is mór an trua go bhfuil sé ag dul ar aghaidh. Ag an am céanna, tá sé fíor-thábhachtach go bhfaigheadh muid soiléiriú ón Rialtas céard atá i gceist aige a dhéanamh faoi seo sa todhchaí agus céard tá i gceist le cinntiú nach dtarlóidh a leithéid arís.