Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the provisions which remain to be implemented in relation to the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18739/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, I gave effect to the principal outstanding provisions of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 in May 2005 under statutory instruments. These conferred non-commercial semi-state status to the National Library of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland and established new statutory Boards for both institutions. The provisions that remain to be enacted relate primarily to the extension of Mandatory Deposit of certain material with the National Library and a scheme of Export Licensing of fine art objects by the National Museum and the provision for the compulsory purchase of certain heritage objects. As these are issues that will have impacts on the operations of the two national cultural institutions and further afield they will be brought into effect on a phased basis.

Officials at my Department are currently consulting with the various interested groups, in particular the new statutory Boards of the Institutions and the Department of Finance. As these are satisfactorily concluded proposed schemes will be presented to the Parliamentary Draftsmen for the preparation of statutory instruments.