Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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362. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will outline her work to ensure the return of the entirety of the Hugh Lane bequest collection to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36782/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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While this is primarily a matter for the Hugh Lane Gallery and Dublin City Council, a partnership agreement was signed between the National Gallery, London, the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin and my Department in February 2021, regarding the Sir Hugh Lane Bequest of thirty-nine paintings. This partnership emphasises a commitment to working together to allow the public in both Ireland and the UK to continue enjoying these works and is the latest in a series of such agreements dating back many decades.

This agreement marks progress over previous agreements made during the past 50 years and the two galleries are committed to working in partnership regarding the care and display of these paintings. My Department will continue to support the mutual commitment of the Galleries in Dublin and London to the shared curation of and care for the collection under this agreement.