The head of the Heritage Council has called on the government to intervene in the controversy over the multi-million euro sale of paintings that were gifted to the Irish people.

The 'Old master' paintings were displayed at Wicklow's Russborough House, but they're due to be auctioned at Christie’s in London, to raise funds for the upkeep of the stately home. Two will be auctioned tomorrow, but the rest (including two Ruebens) are set to be sold on July 9.

Enda Kenny, speaking in Castlebar, said the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys would meet with the chair of the Alfred Beit Foundation tomorrow to talk about a range of "possible opportunities."

According to RTE, when asked whether the government would consider purchasing the art, he said it was too early to talk of what was possible.

Michael Starrett of the Heritage Council told the Last Word, there's already legislation in place to deal with the situation: