Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the competing claims for the dukedom of Leinster; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the dispute concerned was prompted by the eighth Duke of Leinster (details supplied) in December 2004 in respect of which a claim was submitted through the Crown Office to prove succession, and that a competing claim has been submitted on behalf of a person claiming to be the true heir-apparent of the fifth duke, and if a dispute before the Crown Office has implications for Irish titles, property or assets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4975/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for genealogical matters reside with the genealogical office, a branch of the National Library of Ireland. The national library is an autonomous body under the aegis of my Department and responsibility for operational matters relating to genealogy is for the board of the National Library of Ireland.

Article 40 of the Constitution requires all citizens to be held equal before the law, and prohibits the conferral of titles of nobility by the State. Consequently, the genealogical office provides no recognition for such titles as those referred to in the Deputy's question. My Department has no role to play in property rights.