Arts Minister Heather Humphreys has said she has taken action to address legal issues surrounding the issue of export licences for works of art.
Earlier, her department settled a case taken by An Taisce, which had alleged the licences were unlawfully issued by the National Gallery of Ireland.
The minister said the power to issue licences was originally delegated to the National Gallery in 1985 by the then minister for arts by way of a letter.
However, Ms Humphreys has now signed the relevant statutory instrument to allow the issuing of the licences by the National Gallery to take place.
She also said her department is continuing to consider other wider issues relating to export licences as part of a review instigated last year.
An Taisce took the action following the decision by the Alfred Beit Foundation to sell a number of paintings to raise funds for Russborough House.
The sale of those paintings has since been postponed but An Taisce has said it now wants the paintings repatriated and all options explored to keep them in Ireland.
The Alfred Beit Foundation has said it needs an endowment fund of €15m for the ongoing maintenence of Russborough House.
A private donor is considering buying a number of the paintings under a scheme that would see them put on public display in Ireland, but RTÉ News understands this may not raise the full amount of money needed.
Trustees of the foundation are due to meet Ms Humphreys tomorrow to discuss the ongoing situation.
