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A BILL THAT would see very old safe deposit boxes in banks opened will be debated at second stage in the Dáil this evening.
The Safe Deposit Boxes and Related Deposits Bill 2022 proposes opening safe deposit boxes in banks, starting with the oldest deposits, and examining them with a view to creating a property register.
If passed, it could potentially lead to important items of historical interest being displayed in museums.
The Bill has been brought forward by Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cúiv.
Under the provisions of the Bill, the bank would attempt to identify the owner of unclaimed deposit boxes that have been held by the bank for no less than 80 years.
If no one is identified after six months, the Bill proposes that the contents of the safe deposit box be inspected on behalf of the State.
Items of historical interest would then be transferred to the National Museum of Ireland, while any cash not claimed would be lodged into the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ó Cúiv said people have been using safe deposit boxes in Ireland since 1782, when the first bank was set up in the State.
“We believe, and we have reasonably good evidence of what could be in these: cash, weapons of war memorabilia, antiques, paintings, jewelry, title deeds, papers of all kinds, letters. You could find anything in there. We don’t know. It’s a treasure trove,” he said.
“We know that for various security reasons and so on, some boxes were opened and my understanding is that there are quite interesting finds in them.
“The Bill provides that nothing would ever be opened – ever – unless it was lying there for 80 years. If people are say a minimum of 20 years putting stuff in deposit boxes, the person would be over 100 by the time it would be opened.”
Ó Cúiv said the first obligation of the banks would be to identify the owner of the property.
“In the case that they can’t identify anybody who’s got an interest, then they have to put out a public notice, which is there for six months. This is done in very, very careful stages,” he said.
“If nobody has come forward at that stage, then they actually open the contents.”
This would be done by independent auditors, he added.
“Everything is supervised through every stage. What they then have to do is notify the National Museum on behalf of the State, and it would be the National Museum that will look at it and decide whether it’s of national interest or not.”
He said items of interest would then be put on display. However, even after this, if someone came forward that could prove that they were entitled to the item, it would be returned to them.
“If there are long lost family heirlooms, the first thing is to try find you, but if after all of this long process, you still could make a claim, then you are entitled to it. It is your possession.”
Ó Cúiv said he understands that there is “very broad support” across the Dáil for the Bill.
He said if it passes the second stage today, it will be debated in detail at the Social Welfare Community and Rural Committee, which deals with dormant accounts.
“All of these provisions you’ve been asked me about would be subject to public debate, line by line, in the Bill,” he said.
“Nothing will happen in a hurry, but we hope that progress will be made on this Bill because I think there are exciting, exciting prospects out of this Bill.”
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@James this an apauling and completely unacceptable situation. What sort of a government/local council allows the needs of the disabled people to be overlooked?! Having grown up beside Kilbarrack dart station it was disgusting to see how difficult it was for a wheelchair user to access the dart. This was in the late 90s and early 00s if anything the situation has gotten worse with broken lifts they never bother to repair and the system of user having to request ramps and inform the dart of the time and train they plan to return home on so the dart can assure there is a ramp available, of course this is not always guaranteed and what if the disabled person is planning on going drinking for the day and has no idea what specific dart they will return home on.
I hoped the Shane Byrne documentary in 2015 would compel some of the powers that be to act on this apauling aspect of our society. I suppose the usual lip service was paid by the government and local councils but as always no tangible actions were taken or implemented. Now to read how difficult the property market is for the disabled it really makes my blood boil. The property industry in Ireland is disgusting, driven by greed and propped by spineless government after spineless government. This is just another manifestation of this greed and pull the ladder up attitude when it comes to housing in this country. Hoping this can change and allow disabled people the access to a high standard of housing. Will the government and councils ever do anything????
With clowns out in Dublin Airport making funny anecdotes on Twitter about Dublin having a rail system called Dart. Yet no direct link to airport. What do you expect.
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