Robinson Centre criticisms ‘below the belt’ – Reilly

VISION An artist's impression of the proposed renovations to the Robinson family home on Emmet Street, Ballina, available on www.maryrobinsoncentre.ie

Ciara Galvin

CRITICISM of the proposed Mary Robinson Centre in Ballina has been labelled ‘unfair and unfounded’ by Ballina TD Dara Calleary while local historian and writer Terry Reilly has said calling the centre a ‘vanity project’ is ‘below the belt’.
The proposed project, which will see Ireland’s first Presidential Library be developed and based in Ballina, came under scrutiny following an RTÉ Prime Time report that aired last week.
Controversy over the centre which is proposed to be based in the Robinson family home at Victoria House, Ballina, stems from criticism over the price tag of the project, an estimated €8.35 million, among other issues.
Critics have also questioned the €1.5 million commitment by Mayo County Council which includes the purchase of the Robinson family home for an estimated €650,000 and the commitment of the local authority to foot the bill for any ‘unforeseen costs’.
Defending the project, Ballina historian, author and Robinson Centre fundraising committee member Terry Reilly, said it was a pity the project was being used as a ‘political/academic punchbag’.
Mr Reilly, who called for a project of this type for the town back in 2012, hit out at critics and said ‘slurs’ like ‘vanity project’ to describe the centre were ‘below the belt’.
“Sure Dublin would love to have it … and would find the money from state coffers to house, archive and staff it. The west has been denuded of opportunity over the years. We have to trek to Dublin for everything and pay top whack when we get there. Ballina is not in outer Mongolia. Ballina is the same distance to Dublin as Dublin is to Ballina,” said Mr Reilly, who is also a former editor of the Western People newspaper.

Criticism
The project has received a host of criticisms for many reasons, but mainly for the possibility that the former president could receive a tax credit of possibly €2 million for donating her archive, which Mealy’s auctioneers has valued at €2.5 million.
The archive is made up of 2,000 books on law and human rights, 3,800 periodicals; a master file of the President’s engagements from December 1990 to September 1997; and the symbolic light in the window of Áras an UachtarΡin from her Presidency, among other items.
Terry Reilly compared the proposed project to the success of the Jackie Clarke collection.
“Jackie Clarke gave his collection to Ballina and this year the Collection is expected to clock up in excess of 30,000 visits. Likewise, Mary Robinson has remained loyal to her town; she was invited to go elsewhere with her collection gathered over a lifetime of service: she chose her native town.”
Mr Reilly said the centre will be advantageous to creating jobs and bringing students to the area.
“Despite the small-mindedness of certain political and elitist academic/archival interests,” he said, “the project will materialise and play its part in developing attractions so desperately needed, attractions which would not have been provided by detractors whose interests lie elsewhere.”
Deputy Calleary said the project ‘reflects the huge contribution that Mary Robinson has made not only to Ireland, but right across the world, during her time as President and later as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’.
Calleary added that the centre would complement tourism in Mayo and could incentivise a new wave of academics and people with an interest in social world and political affairs, to come and visit. 
“Not every national collection needs to be held in the capital, particularly when Mary Robinson herself expressed a preference that it remain in Ballina. I have full confidence that the board overseeing the delivery of this project will ensure that it is delivered in a timely and transparent manner,” said Calleary.

Answers
Seeking answers over the project, Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Committee Peadar Tóibín TD, has said it is not good enough that questions he posed to An Taoiseach Enda Kenny about the decision to invest state funding in the project were not addressed.
Speaking on Sunday, Deputy Tóibín said he had no doubt there was value in the archive and that the project should be based in Mayo, however he said there are ‘major question marks’ regarding the €5.5 million of public funds involved in the project.
Tóibín said there is also question marks regarding the possible €2 million in tax reliefs and ‘significant concerns’ about Mayo County Council committing to covering unforeseen costs within the project.
The Sinn Feín representative said it was well known that the Taoiseach gave his backing to the project but the process used to make funding decisions was not known.
According to him, The Department of the Arts did not approve the project under any specific scheme.
Tóibín has demanded full transparency following questions left unanswered by the Taoiseach about what contacts he or his department had regarding the decision with the Department of the Arts, or the Minister for the Arts, or the Robinson family.
“This is not good enough. This is a significant amount of tax payers’ money and TDs are entitled to know how it’s spent. I would urge to Taoiseach to answer these questions at the earliest opportunity to ensure full transparency,” he added.