Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. There has been a lovely and broad cross-section of the various art forms. "Red Rock" is one of my favourite contemporary screen productions. We have come on so much in terms of our own shows on national television, which is something to be proud of. On the broader question of the draft cultural document before us, Mr. Downes referred to the arts in education aspect not being as tangible in it as we might like. From an artist's point of view, there is a huge opportunity with the arts in education charter and in the proposals and aspirations it includes for local arts in education partnerships to provide full-time, long-term employment for artists constituting a sustainable career with a good income. Having come from the arts myself, we still do not have in Ireland that certainty or continuity in projects, positions or jobs. Perhaps someone from each group could answer on the education aspect.

How do they believe we could be more comprehensive about this? Do they have any proposals so that we can get our teeth stuck into something tangible?