The board of the Alfred Beit Foundation has unanimously decided to postpone the upcoming Christie's sale, while it considers a proposal from private Irish donors for the possible purchase of the artworks.

However if the current proposal or other proposals do not reach a satisfactory conclusion by October 2015 - and Russborough is otherwise unable to raise the required funds - the sale of the artworks via auction will go ahead.

The board is seeking a further meeting with the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys, and Minister of State at the Office of Public Works Simon Harris, to establish the Government’s support for Russborough for the future.

Kerry McCall from the National Campaign for the Arts says the board must pursue the offer: