Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

52. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with museums in other countries regarding the potential repatriation of Irish artifacts on display in their museums. [64064/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The restitution and repatriation of cultural heritage is an important, complex, and sensitive matter, particularly against the backdrop of current world events and discourse. While my Department does not engage directly with cultural institutions in other countries to request the repatriation of items of Irish origin in their collections, my Department is represented on the Advisory Committee on the Restitution and Repatriation of Cultural Heritage. The Advisory Committee is chaired by Sir Donnell Deeny, an expert in this field, and ably supported by the Heritage Council, as Secretariat. Further information about the Advisory Committee's membership and work can be found here - Advisory Committee on the Restitution and Repatriation of Cultural Heritage | The Heritage Councilwww.heritagecouncil.ie/our-work-with-others/advisory-committee-on-the-restitution-and-repatriation-of-cultural-heritage.

As the Deputy will know, this Advisory Committee was established to advise the Government on matters relating to the restitution of historically and culturally sensitive objects in Ireland. The Advisory Committee has been developing policy advice and national guidelines on the restitution of cultural heritage objects in Ireland that may have been illegally or unethically obtained or traded, and its approach is grounded in the research and evidence of best practice internationally. The Advisory Committee will also provide guidance to cultural institutions and other bodies that have responsibilities for managing historic collections, on a range of matters including provenance research.

This expert guidance will assist our National Cultural Institutions in considering any claim received regarding the repatriation of items held in the national collections in Ireland. While the Advisory Committee does not have a specific role in providing advice on Irish items held internationally, the approach promoted by the Advisory Committee will support strengthening relationships with global institutions, which in turn can support reciprocal arrangements between institutions. I am very pleased with the Advisory Committee's substantial progress in this sensitive policy area, and I am looking forward to receiving their report early next year.