Taoiseach Leo Varadkar requested portraits of WT Cosgrave and the patriot and women’s rights activist Jennie Wyse Power when he moved to his new offices.
As Mr Varadkar took up office again in Government Buildings early this year, there were a flurry of requests for artwork from his staff members.
Mr Varadkar himself opted for two portraits of influential political figures with a staff member writing: “Can I book the OPW to hang pics in Taoiseach office and back room please. He is out of the office on Friday which might be best.”
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Two other staffers asked if they could visit the Office of Public Works art collection to see what might be suitable for their offices.
Special adviser Matthew Lynch wrote: “There are four painting hangers in my office and I’m wondering if I could put up some paintings/pictures if they are available.”
Another member of staff said: “My colleague Matthew Lynch is booked in to visit the collection and suggested it might make sense to bring us both over together.”
The Taoiseach’s backroom team also had more prosaic requests including a new whiteboard, a TV wall bracket, a new desk because the height of an existing one wasn’t “workable”, and getting a personal picture hung.
There was also a query about the fireplace in Leo Varadkar’s office with the Taoiseach asking: “Can we find out if it’s safe to use?”
Over at the Department of Foreign Affairs, art was also on the mind of the backroom team of the new Tánaiste Micheál Martin.
His press adviser Paul Clarkson wrote to say: “I’d like to request some art work for the walls in my office … in government buildings. Contemporary art work, and seascapes of Ireland, Skellig Micheal etc.”
However, he was told there was a major backlog with various office moves and department switches going ahead.
An email said: “[The OPW] art management team have been in touch to say that they have added your request to their list.
“But they are currently experiencing a huge volume of such requests and it may take some time. They have said they will contact me again when available to facilitate a visit.”
There was also confusion over what to do with a sculpture of Frank Aiken, the Irish revolutionary and politician.
A message from the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “Would you be able to confirm that the attached is the bust of Frank Aiken, and if so we will arrange to have it brought back to Iveagh House.”
A response from Micheál Martin’s team said: “I see what you mean. I’m not sure if it is but I think it would be worth bringing it back and I’ll [see] if the Tánaiste is happy to display it. It looks close enough to Frank Aiken.”
Later, it was agreed the bust should be moved to a position just outside the Tánaiste’s front door. “The Private Secretary is happy for it to be returned to the same place once ready.”
There was also a technical issue over the handling of parliamentary questions (PQs) for Micheál Martin’s ministerial office as his chief of staff Deirdre Gillane wanted to clear all of them before they were published.
An email said: “For your info, Deirdre Gillane … will approve all PQs that come into the minister’s office.
“I have sought ways to provide her technical access to the [Department] ePQ system through existing technology but it seems very likely she will need a DFA One Device prepared to approve them.”
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