Not to be a jerk, but what other options do they have for upkeep of the house? And aside from being Rubens owned by a Brit who gave them to the Republic, just what are their ties to Ireland anyway? They;'re not by Irish people, they're not of Irish people, they're not Edit (of places) in Ireland. The government hasn't see a need to put them in a location where they can be seen, and they can't be shown safely at Russborough House because nearly 30 years isn't enough time to get around to a security plan for the paintings, which is only slightly more ridiculous then the claims made by the group behind the petition that insists plans were started 10 years ago to work more closely with the government, while ignoring the fact that the government hasn't gotten around to actually trying anything in 10 years.