An expert group established to investigate allegations of Nazi links to artefacts at the Hunt Museum in Limerick has completed its interim report.
In the report, the group states that a computer database of the entire collection at the Hunt Museum has been completed ahead of schedule. This database is now available on the web and it covers some 1,946 art objects managed by the Hunt Museum.
The expert group was appointed by the Royal Irish Academy to carry out an independent investigation into the origin of all artefacts in the museum, following allegations by the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Paris.
The Hunt Collection, with an estimated value of €70 million, is one of the world's largest private collections of art and was donated to the State by the Hunt family. The inquiry was established after the Simon Wiesenthal Centre wrote to President Mary McAleese alleging the late John and Gertrude Hunt had links to Nazi art dealers.
The interim report - compiled by a four-person group chaired by Seán Cromien, former secretary general at the Department of Finance - has been submitted to the Department of the Arts, Sport and Tourism.
As part of the comprehensive investigation, an international art expert, Nancy Yeide, whose area of expertise is second World War provenance research, was appointed to work alongside the group.
The interim report said the inquiry had received full co-operation from both the board and management of the Hunt Museum.
According to the report, the group's next task is to ensure the museum carries out detailed provenance research on all its art objects in collaboration with Ms Yeide. Priority should be given to objects acquired during the 1933-45 period.
It also recommended that the Hunt Museum should arrange a meeting with the Simon Wiesenthal Centre .