Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Céiliúradh held in the Royal Albert Hall last year was an outstandingly successful event, not least for its television audience of almost 5 million people. How extensive was Culture Ireland's involvement in it? I presume other arms of the State were also involved. How much did it cost? Did the money come out of the annual funding of €2.5 million annual or was it special funding supplied outside the annual budget?

How extensive is the interaction between Culture Ireland and our foreign missions? Is the support or assistance for the events mentioned, be they in Paris, New York or Edinburgh, initiated by the organisers of the festivals or the embassies or is the initiative driven by the Department?