Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is too close. I have attended them all and I am delighted that CCE has decided to bring it across the Border to Derry. It will be a wonderful event. It will be a seminal moment in our history.

I was very impressed by what Ms Ní Bhrádaigh said about the educational programme.

I was aware of the scoil éigse because it always came before the fleadh. We also do not realise there is a little industry in the making of musical instruments. If Comhaltas was not active, jobs would be lost in this area.

I compliment Comhaltas on its magazine, Treoir, which is informative and good. While I accept money is tight, if Comhaltas were looking for additional funding, I would be the first to support it. There would be tremendous support across the Oireachtas for such a request.

When I was in business, I paid a fee to the Irish Music Rights Organisation, IMRO, for playing music in my shop. I am quite shocked that 93% of that revenue stream goes to support non-Irish musicians and the non-Irish musical industry. I also had to pay another annual levy. What was this for?

I understand Comhaltas is concerned with traditional Irish music. However, does Irish music cover Declan Nerney or T.R. Dallas? Is it Christy Moore or Mary Black, is it on a much bigger scale like U2, or is it small garage bands playing rock music? Could Mr. McCarthy expand on this?

I listened to an interesting and excellent RTE documentary last bank holiday Monday on the music of the Traveller community. Does that come under Mr. McCarthy’s remit? Radio Kerry, in fairness, plays some good Irish music programmes like “Kingdom Ceilidh” and many Irish singers and musicians. Could Mr. McCarthy expand on the role of local radio?