Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh chuile duine atá i láthair anseo inniu. Bhí an cur i láthair thar a bheith úsáideach. Tá fios agam go bhfuilimid gann ar am ag an bpoinnte seo.

The Minister's presentation was very helpful and there are five or six issues I would like to raise. I commend the Minister for stressing the importance of utilising the arts to combat social disadvantage. Great work was done by members of the committee in producing the report mentioned. The engagement of the Minister with arts officers around the country indicates the fact that much can be achieved through local authorities. It is vitally important that members of the public are aware of the benefits accruing from engagement with the arts in all of its manifestations. The arts can enrich communities and lives. They can contribute to the renewal and revival of communities and be of economic benefit.

The Minister referred to the centenary commemorations. Nobody doubts the difficulties facing Ministers in striking the right balance in the forthcoming decade of commemorations. The period 1912 to 1922 was probably the most difficult and fraught in Irish history and it is important that the commemorations are tolerant, inclusive and respectful. To say the least, the public's response to the 1916 Rising commemoration proposals has been underwhelming. Looking in from the outside, I have the sense that the Oireachtas advisory committee and the expert panel were not involved to the extent that they might have been. I understand that on the day the announcement was made a presentation was made to them and I would have expected a more hands-on role for both groups in advising the Government. It is fair to say the 1916 Rising commemoration video produced has caused deep disappointment around the country. There has been much reference to it in the national media and it indicates a complete lack of understanding of the events of 1916 and the manner in which they should be commemorated. It was suggested to me that Google Translate had been used to reproduce the 1916 Proclamation of Independence and I do not believe the signatories to the Proclamation were even mentioned in the video. It would be fine to use the video to promote Ireland to tourists, but I put it to the Minister that many believe it is not an appropriate commemoration, given the sensitivity and importance of the events of 1916. Much more could be said about this, but we may not have time to do so.

I concur with the Minister's remarks about the Moore Street monument and share her disappointment that Dublin City Council recently voted in the way it did. She has suggested the pragmatic approach of developing houses from 14 to 17 Moore Street. Like her, I have visited the site and seen how the buildings are falling into greater decay on a daily basis. Urgent intervention is required as the project, if it had proceeded in the way originally envisaged, could have been delivered on time for the centenary commemorations. I do not know what will happen now, but it could be a travesty. I do not question the motivations of those on Dublin City Council who voted in the way they did, nor do I distrust those who want attention to be paid to the broader battlefield. Will the funding necessary to achieve these objectives be obtained in a reasonable timeframe or are we risking further degradation of the site as a result?

I commend the Minister for her work in the areas of the arts and education and what is stated in the report. The Arts Charter is very positive. It is very important that a person of the calibre of Professor John Coolahan is involved. This signifies the importance of the arts in second level education. Huge work has been done in promoting the arts in every primary school in the country, but things get a little ropey at second level owing to timing and so on. More work needs to be done in that regard.

The Minister referred to the Arts Council, which is of enormous importance. Its budget for this year is €56.9 million. A new chair and members of the Arts Council were recently appointed. Those appointments followed an announcement by the then Minister, Deputy Deenihan, in March 2013 when he addressed the Royal Irish Academy that he would look at the boards of the cultural institutions. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has probably heard more than she wants to hear about the cultural institutions; she will forgive me for raising such a matter again. The then Minister said he would reduce the membership of these boards and streamline them, with members serving on a pro bonobasis. An advertisement was subsequently placed for those boards, including the Arts Council. Have things changed? Are the members of the Arts Council being remunerated? If they are being remunerated, who has approved their remuneration? Is their remuneration in addition to expenses they are being paid, if they are being paid expenses? If this has happened, was there any public announcement of the change of position by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, or is it something that has happened quietly behind the scenes?
The national media made reference recently to an allegation that a member of staff of the Arts Council had been involved in the payment of a grant to a family member. I understand this is under investigation within the Arts Council. Is the Minister aware of that? It was certainly covered in the national media. Will there be an external audit or investigation? I would be very concerned about any State body, particularly a State body in receipt of €56.9 million, having a member of staff who could be involved in the payment of a grant to an immediate family member.