524. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has considered including representation for the workers at the National Gallery of Ireland on its board of governors; and the measures she intends to take to ensure workers are included in decision making at our national cultural institutions. [44647/24]

The National Gallery of Ireland is established under statute (the National Gallery of Ireland Acts) that operates under the aegis of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

The composition of the Board of the Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland is prescribed under those Acts. The Board comprises up to seventeen members, of which ten are Ministerial appointments, five are ex-officio holders of the offices listed below, and two are nominated and appointed by the Royal Hibernian Academy under a power assigned to that organisation under the Acts:

· Royal Hibernian Academy: President

· Royal Dublin Society: President and Vice-President

· Royal Irish Academy: President

· Office of Public Works: Chairperson.

The NGI  Board is non-executive and is responsible for oversight of the Gallery’s affairs, whereas the Executive Leadership Team, led by the Director, is responsible for the day-to-day management of, and decision-making for, the Gallery.

The Gallery also has processes for staff consultation in place (for example, the recent consultation conducted for the development of Gallery’s Strategic Plan 2024 – 2028) and there is close communication on decision-making between the ELT and Head of Departments and all staff via staff town hall meetings and union meetings.