S.I. No. 24/1998:

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (RETURN OF CULTURAL OBJECTS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1998.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (RETURN OF CULTURAL OBJECTS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1998.

I, SÍLE DE VALERA, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3 of the European Communities Act, 1972 (No. 27 of 1972), and for the purpose of giving effect to Directive 96/100/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 February 1997¹, hereby make the following Regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Return of Cultural Objects) (Amendment) Regulations, 1998.

2. Regulation 2(1) of the European Communities (Return of Cultural Objects) Regulations, 1994 ( S.I. No. 182 of 1994 ), is hereby amended by the substitution for the definition of "the Directive" of the following definition:

"the Directive" means Council Directive 93/7/EEC of 15 March 1993² (as amended by Directive 96/100/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 February 1997¹);

¹O.J. No. L60, 1.3.97, p. 59.

²O.J. No. L74, 27.3.93. p. 74.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 28th day of January, 1998.

SÍLE de VALERA,

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

Directive 96/100/EC amends the annex to Directive 93/7/EEC on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State (the latter was brought into effect in this State by S.I. No. 182/94). The amending Directive introduces a special category of cultural object for water-colours, gouaches and pastels and establishes a special monetary limit beneath which no claims under the Directive may be made. This is achieved by making appropriate amendments to the current definitions in the Directive of "painting" and "mosaic". The effect of the amendment to S.I. No. 182/94 is to bring on board the new category of cultural object.