Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In recent times, this issue has become prominent in many other countries, many of which are developing and issuing national policies in this area.

The Heritage Council is supporting the committee in its work. Other countries that have restitution committees include Australia, France, Germany and the Netherlands. We can deal with the panel involved in the UK to obtain advice on how it went about matters. It may have many more artefacts to deal with and might have developed policies in this regard. It is proposed that the advisory committee will take 18 months from its establishment, which was last December. The Minister looks forward to receiving its report, fully acting on it and giving guidelines to the national institutions. The Senator’s suggestion on displaying items in Ireland before repatriating them is very good. I thank him for raising these matters. I will bring his comments directly back to the Minister.