Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

One should not rush into the queue. Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Aire Stáit agus cuirim fáilte roimhe anseo tráthnóna inniu. Is mór an faoisimh é go bhfuil Aire againn a bhfuil nach amháin suim aige sa chultúr ach a théann chuig chúrsaí cultúr. Tá a fhios agam é sin le bliain anuas ó ealaíontóirí agus ó dhaoine a bhfuil páirteach sna healaíona. Nuair a théann an tAire Stáit go hócáidí, cuireann sé áthas ar dhaoine agus tugann sé aitheantas don tionscal agus tá sé sin tábhachtach.

I have a couple of questions, but before I ask them, I must make a statement on a potential conflict of interest. Everyone knows me by now. The reason I was appointed by the Taoiseach was to make a contribution in my field. I am director of the Abbey Theatre and on many occasions have gratefully received funding from Culture Ireland to enable many tours abroad, on merit of course, but it is still important to state this. We also receive funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the parent Department of Culture Ireland.

There is a slight modesty in the Minister of State's commentary. It is important to say Culture Ireland has probably been one of the most successful Government agencies in the past ten years, in particular given its small staff. It has an extraordinarily large and increasingly wide reach when it comes to sending work abroad and making this country proud, in particular during the recession and the era of austerity when all we had to show for ourselves abroad was the presence of our artists and culture. It is also fair to say that when other funding was cut, Culture Ireland's indirect funding for the arts helped to sustain the lives and careers of many artists abroad, in particular on tour. It is important to acknowledge this.

It is refreshing to have a Minister of State with responsibility for culture who knows what he is talking about, who attends events and engages with the industry. That has come back to me through my various constituencies. I have three questions for the Minister of State. At one point there was an aspiration for Culture Ireland to be put on a statutory basis. The reason that has not happened could have something to do with cost. In a way the Minister of State acknowledged the stability and future sustainability of Culture Ireland by increasing its funding for next year, on which I congratulate him. What are the thoughts on its future in terms of strengthening it, in particular the expert advisory committee? Although I do not hold any negative view on the advisory committee, there was what I would call a ham-fisted transfer from what was an independent board before it which transferred in Micheál Ó Suilleabháin's second term as chairman. I would like to hear about the status of the committee.

My second question relates to the key global regions. How were the regions picked for next year? Why were the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand picked? Was it because of a particular commemoration or what were the reasons? Are there other regions and territories in the pipeline for inclusion in future years?

I again congratulate the Minister of State on his presentation and the Mise Éirepamphlet.