The Book of Kells, which is one of the Republic's major tourist attractions, should be moved from Dublin and returned to its native Kells in Co Meath.
This was the proposal put forward at the Irish Coach Drivers Association annual conference at the weekend as one solution to ease Dublin's traffic problems, particularly lack of coach-parking spaces, and move more tourists into the regions.
The 8th-century book has been in Dublin since Cromwellian times and was presented to Trinity College. It is contained in a glass case in the library of Trinity College and forms the centre-point of a visitors' exhibition.
The proposal to move it back to Kells was presented by newly elected secretary, Mr Joe Lavery, who said the single biggest reason most tourists visited Dublin was to see the Book of Kells.
Mr Lavery told The Irish Times yesterday: "Visitors mainly go to see the Book of Kells. There is no parking for coaches around Trinity so it would be good for Dublin and good for the people of Kells."
He said that if the book was not in Trinity, most tourists would just take tours around the city. At the moment, the coaches have to park in Nassau Street and this clogged up the city centre needlessly.
Asked where the Book of Kells might be displayed in Kells, Mr Lavery replied: "They have a new heritage centre there in the old church grounds and that would make an excellent place."
On security for the priceless artefact, Mr Lavery said that would be up to the Chamber of Commerce. Mr Lavery said they would be putting the proposal to Dublin Corporation as soon as the coach drivers could arrange a meeting after Christmas.
The Government was always paying lip service to decentralising and here was a real opportunity where something positive could be done to alleviate the situation, he said.
Mr Lavery said Dublin Corporation made very little parking space available in the city for the hundreds of coach tours that visited each week.