IMPACT has warned management at the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) of staff concerns over proposals to temporarily move the Seanad into NMI’s building on Kildare Street in Dublin. IMPACT national secretary Angela Kirk said there was real concern and anxiety among staff about the impact on museum visitors.

“While museum staff are concerned about the likely disruption, their main worry is about the effect this is going to have on their ability to deliver a professional service and a meaningful experience to visitors. The proposed move would shut down the NMI’s only venue for large-scale public and educational events. The museum’s capacity to offer educational programmes and public engagement opportunities would be restricted for at least the next three years, possibly longer,” she said.

The union says space allocated for Seanad business would also affect work areas. “Staff would have to be accommodated elsewhere in an already overcrowded building, leading to the loss of even more public space,” according to Angela.

IMPACT also questioned claims that the museum will ultimately benefit from spending allocated to accommodate the Seanad move. “The best that the museum can hope for is to get the building back in the same condition. Staff are concerned that, after an expenditure of this magnitude, the Houses of the Oireachtas may be unwilling ever to return the full building to the museum.”

Angela also said that the proposed installation of a lift will only provide access from Leinster House, giving no benefit to the museum or its visitors. “This is despite the efforts of NMI staff, over many years, to provide a lift to make the upper levels of the museum accessible to all. These arguments have been ignored but, as soon as a lift is considered necessary for senators, it appears to be easily done,” she said.

Angela called on management to “clearly articulate its opposition to the Seanad proposal in the interests of museum visitors, museum staff and the long term integrity of the Kildare Street building.”