Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 146: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if, in view of the recent purchase by the National Museum of the portrait of Thomas Ashe painted by Leo Whelan, he will request the National Museum to give the painting on loan to the Kerry County Museum which is housed in the Ashe Memorial Hall, Tralee for the 2008 tourist season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34774/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since the National Museum of Ireland became an autonomous statutory body under the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 on 3rd May 2005, the Board of the National Museum is statutorily responsible for operational matters concerning its collection and I, as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, do not have a statutory function in respect of operational matters.

I am aware, however, that the National Museum of Ireland has recently taken possession of the portrait of Thomas Ashe, which is currently undergoing a conservation assessment. It is open to the Kerry County Museum to request the loan of the portrait in question from the National Museum of Ireland.