Mr. Gerry Kearney:

The general scheme has been discussed before the board twice, namely, on 31 July and last Thursday. The disposition of the board, having gone around the course a number of times, is that it welcomes the establishment of the National Concert Hall, NCH, on a statutory basis. We are of the view that it gives appropriate legal recognition to the prominence of the NCH as a national institution. We have identified a number of key areas, through which I am happy to walk members briefly for the information of the joint committee, on which the board honed in as being important in respect of pursuing the interests of the hall within a statutory framework and of developing and building on the initial offering from the Department in the general scheme. I will list them briefly for the benefit of members. Heads 9 and 10 deal with the functions and powers of the National Concert Hall and in those areas, we seek and have proposed to the Department certainly a more succinct articulation of what the concert hall should be about. Much of what is contained in the general scheme is taken from the memorandum and articles of association, which are more than 30 years old and which were written in a different context. In this legislation, what we really need is a more succinct, focused and permissive articulation of what the hall is about. It needs some reflection at a policy level, as well as simpler and more clear language as to its particular remit, and this is what we have sought to offer the Department. We want to be absolutely clear that the board has the powers to deliver on this.

Heads 23 and 24 relate to the director and staff of the National Concert Hall and, in that space, the board's thinking is that as we are operating largely in a commercial environment, we need some of the freedoms that are enjoyed by commercial bodies and having us subject to the strictures of a Department is not really fit for the purpose of a body that now derives two thirds of its direct income from commercial activities. As for head 33, we welcome what is already there and have suggested this is important. We have introduced more explicitly the issue of fund-raising in this regard. In our deliberations, we noted that the first Schedule to the 1997 legislation governing the national cultural institutions lists the premises at which those bodies are located. We would really welcome it were it possible to reflect in law the premises of the NCH. We recognise this should not be a straitjacket and that, obviously, one would provide the Government and the Minister with the freedom to add additional provision to this, should they so wish. However, in seeking philanthropic giving, in respect of the confidence of donors and in having a National Concert Hall, it appears highly desirable that one would specify that its location would have statutory recognition.

The final point, on which I will conclude, is a horizontal issue in that within the financial area, the board has suggested some areas for improvement. We seek improved discretion in head 24 in terms of staff pay. Within head 30 in respect of accounts, we think our current system for the presentation and preparation of accounts is highly efficient and wish to hold onto that, rather than perhaps slowing it down by bringing it directly into the Comptroller and Auditor General process. Similarly, with regard to heads 33 and 34 in respect of gifts etc., we are happy to elucidate on those points should members so wish.