Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for their testimony and for all of their work, which is important. I want to talk specifically about the Walls Project. I am from Gorey in Wexford and the Walls Project did two amazing pieces there, including a collaboration with Gorey Little Theatre, a voluntary theatre with which I am involved. One of the best aspects of that was the consultation process. It was mostly people with an interest in the performing arts who were talking about what was going on the wall of the building. It was great. It s fair to say there is probably a lot more collaboration in the south east. I certainly think that some of the work the Walls Project has done not just in Gorey but also in Ferns, New Ross and Waterford, has been super. I want to say that to our guests.

The great thing about these committees is that we work in a collaborative way and come up with real recommendations about how we can change or shape policy at local and national level. For the work of our guests, do they have specific recommendations with regard to national policy? Part of that might be on the funding side but are there legislative changes, training or alternative approaches that can be taken? Our guests might talk about that.

Coming from Gorey, I am conscious of the late great Paul Funge, who set up the first arts festival in the country. That legacy continues to live within the community. How do we embed that into a community? Many visual artists are able to do that. Paul Funge certainly did, and his legacy is still there. I am looking for specific recommendations in that regard.

I do not want to get into a row about art on walls and the political context but Mr. McGuinness, Mr. O'Connell or Mr. Caslin might respond to the following point. I love Mr. Caslin's work, and probably share many of his political views. The question is how we strike a balance. Do we allow for somebody with very different political views? What if somebody who does not describe themselves as pro-choice decided to exhibit a pro-life piece of art that is quite graphic? Somebody with very strong right-wing views might decide to exhibit in a particular way. I am not disagreeing with Mr. Caslin but there is always a balance to be struck in respect of freedom of expression. There must be a level of caution. I appreciate that I am moving slightly away from the focus of the meeting but it will inform some of the discussion.