Debate contribution: Decolonisation of Museum Collections and Repatriation of Artefacts
Debate contribution by Ms Emma Sheerin on .
- MLA
- Ms Emma Sheerin
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 20 May 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Decolonisation of Museum Collections and Repatriation of Artefacts
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4963920
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion, and I welcome the support for it from across the House. I note that the party opposite has stated that it supports the returning of artefacts to their home nations, which is exactly what the motion calls for. The conversation thus far has been respectful, which is welcome. That is largely what this is about: respecting different narratives and reflections on the past and having an honest conversation. We know that our museums offer so much. They are a tourism and education opportunity. Telling the story accurately while acknowledging past hurt and different perspectives on how events unfolded will always lead to a better education piece and a better tourism experience. That is key to what we are asking for here. If we are to get to a place where the pain of those who have suffered in the past can in any way be rectified, we have to be honest about what caused it. There is space there for different people's accounts and narratives to be reflected. Our museums are doing good work in that regard, and they should be supported in that. We want to offer people an authentic experience. We want to encourage more visitors to our island, and we want to bring people in and tell them the whole story, because we know that the hurt of past communities is exacerbated when their pain is not acknowledged or reflected. Others have referred to the fact that, when countries receive artefacts back and do so in a respectful way, that allows the story to be told in both places honestly. We need education, but we do not need to educate anyone at the expense of any other community, particularly one that has already had wrongs perpetrated against it. That is what the motion is about. It is about recognising the fact that our museums have already given a clear commitment to the decolonisation of artefacts, where possible, and that they want to engage with countries around the world and, again, where possible, return artefacts. We want to support them in doing so. Through that, everyone involved will have a better experience. That is what the motion is about; it is not about bashing anyone. The past happened. If we are ever to deal with it, we have to talk about it openly and honestly and move on from there. That is what the motion calls for, and I would welcome support for it from across the House.
420 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.10 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.98).
- Subject area: Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.15 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.37 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.03 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.11 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.49 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.10 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.98 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.02 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.37 |
| Immigration, asylum, race, ethnicity and Travellers | 0.21 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.14 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.13 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.08 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:32 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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