Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West, Éamon Ó Cuív gained agreement in the Dáil today on a new bill to transfer unclaimed items from historic safe-deposit boxes to the National Cultural Institutions where they hold items of historical interest.
Deputy Ó Cuív commented, “The first Irish banks opened in Ireland at the end of the eighteenth century and since then many banks have held safe deposit boxes. It is believed these boxes, many of which are unclaimed, could hold items of historical interest.
“In the event of no owner being identified the Bill (Safe Deposit Boxes and Related Deposits Bill 2022) proposes that those of historical interest should be transferred to the National Museum of Ireland while any cash not claimed should be lodged into the Dormant Accounts Fund.”
The Galway West TD added: “This bill which includes 30 sections sets out the legal framework under which this can be done safeguarding property rights but also acting in the interests of the common good. All safe deposits will be recorded in chronological order and no safe deposit box held by a bank for less than 80 years will be opened.”