The Seanad is to relocate to the Natural History Museum while building work takes place in Leinster House.
Politicians have been working in Leinster House, Dublin since the 1920s. In a few months some of them will move out to allow the builders to move in.
A survey of the building last year revealed that the first and second floors of this eighteenth century mansion are supported from the roof and not the ground. Politicians had been aware that work would have to be carried out at some stage, as Minister for State Noel Ahern TD explains,
Recently the officials... were showing some concern.
The Dáil chamber, bar and restaurant will not be affected, but Seanad Éireann will move to the nearby Natural History Museum on Merrion Street.
There have been some unkind comparisons between the exhibits at the 'Dead Zoo’ and the politicians who will move in, says Senator David Norris,
You’re going in with all them aul’ dinosaurs.
It is not yet clear where the national collection of animal, birds and insects will be stored, as Director of the National Museum Pat Wallace tells RTÉ News,
We’ve had no discussions about the finite destination, about the evacuation about all the taking down of all the artefacts.
Work will begin this summer however in the Seanad Chamber which was originally designed as a ballroom when the Duke of Leinster started to build on this site. This historic room was also used as a picture gallery, and as historian Pat Liddy explains is,
One of the most important and impressive decorated rooms in the country.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 15 February 2008. The reporter is Martina Fitzgerald.
