Fresh calls for the repatriation of Irish cultural treasures taken during centuries of colonial rule were made in the Dublin parliament this week, as Culture Minister Patrick O’Donovan admitted that museums across Europe continue to hold plunder stolen from Ireland and other former colonies.

The debate emerged during discussion of an upcoming report from the advisory committee on restitution and repatriation relating to culturally sensitive objects.

Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh (pictured, left) raised the issue of Irish artefacts and manuscripts still being retained by British institutions, accusing England in particular of continuing to hold material belonging to Ireland that is effectively hidden from public view.

“This material is sometimes surplus to the museums’ requirements,” he said.

“Such material has sometimes been given back by way of permanent loan rather than being returned outright.”

The Sinn Féin TD also proudly recounted how his father had personally intervened to return Irish cultural objects during his time working in a museum.

“When he worked in a museum, my father managed to return some such items without anybody’s permission – these items now sit in a museum,” he said.

Responding, the minister accepted that former colonial powers have a responsibility to return artefacts taken against the will of colonised peoples.

“There is a compulsion on European Union countries that are funding museums they know to contain loot that was taken from people against their will to recover it and return it to those people’s countries – that includes Ireland,” Mr O’Donovan told the Dáil.

Among the Irish items still held abroad are ancient manuscripts, religious artefacts and archaeological treasures removed during centuries of occupation. Campaigners have long argued that very many remain locked away in British institutions despite having profound cultural and historical significance to the Irish people.

The debate around repatriation has intensified internationally in recent years, with growing demands for the return of looted cultural heritage from museums built during the height of the Britsh and other European empires.

Campaigners have argued that Ireland, because of its own history of colonisation, should be at the forefront of international efforts demanding the return of cultural property taken through conquest, theft and imperial rule.

That position has previously been championed by Mr Ó Snodaigh, who argued in earlier debates that “the restoration of cultural heritage to its rightful owners” should form part of a broader process of decolonisation both in Ireland and internationally.

He has also previously highlighted the continued possession by British institutions of significant Irish artefacts, including the Bell Shrine of St Conall Cael from Donegal (pictured, right), and hundreds of Irish-language manuscripts held by the British Library.