The Taoiseach may choose not to pass a picket today to complete formalities at the opening of the National Museum's new premises at Collins Barracks in Dublin. An official protest by curators and technical staff at the museum is set to spoil the grand opening of the £15 million exhibition complex at the restored 18th century military headquarters, and has placed a question mark over the Taoiseach's attendance.
A picket will also be placed at the museum's Kildare Street headquarters.
The staff, members of the IMPACT trade union, are in dispute with the Department of Arts and Heritage, over what they say is management's failure to fill promotional positions.
About 2,000 guests, including Mr Ahern, the Minister for Arts and Heritage, Ms de Valera, a number of ambassadors to this country and some museum directors from abroad are due to attend today's event.
Mr Ahern is due to perform the opening in Clarke Square, in front of the south and west block of the barracks which will house the museum. He is then due to tour the premises, which would involve passing the curators' picket.
A Government source was unable to say last night what Mr Ahern's attitude to passing the picket would be. But there was no indication of any last-minute talks to avert the potential embarrassment. A spokesman for Ms de Valera said she regarded the matter "very seriously" and regretted that it had not been possible to resolve the issue. "She appreciates the tremendous work by all the staff, both those involved in the dispute and others, to bring the Collins Barracks project to fruition," he said.
Today's action is the first in a planned series of one-day strikes by the 27 staff who have decided to step up their long-standing dispute with the Department.
IMPACT says it is 15 years since the last normal promotion at the National Museum and half its curatorial staff are in "acting" positions or receiving ex-gratia payments in lieu of substantive promotions.
"The £70,000 cost of [today's] opening ceremony far exceeds the resources required to solve this dispute," said an official of the union, Mr Matt Dempsey. "Our members in the National Museum have put a huge effort into the preparations for the opening and they are disappointed that the day will be marred. But their long-running grievance has not so far been taken seriously by the Department and staff feel that this is the only way to concentrate minds."
Dr Raghnall O Floinn, a curator from the museum's antiquities section, said the action was a "gesture of frustration", adding: "We are heartbroken that what should have been a great day for the museum is turning into a funeral."
The Collins Barracks facility will enable the museum to exhibit many of the 90 per cent of its artefacts which it cannot currently display at its Kildare Street premises due to lack of space.
