Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is reasonable to outline what I have said. I have never said it is not my problem. What I have simply said is that there is a distinction between the people the State employs and those it does not. That is a reasonable point of view. At no point would I wish to wash my hands of any indirect responsibility for those individuals because I am aware of the very good work they do. I have many such projects in my constituency and I see the very good work they do. In many cases, they do work which the State either did not do or cannot do as well. I will come back to the Deputy on the forum because I do not want to mislead him.

On the arts, I am not aware if Winston Churchill said the following, but if he did not I know the Deputy will correct me. I think he said that the mark of greatness is the ability to hold two mutually incompatible views at the same time. This is what strikes me when we get into dealing with all of this. Of course, people want more funding for the arts. I want to see more funding delivered to many parts of society, but I must reconcile it all. Of course, the arts community wants to maintain the €50 million. I understand that completely. If I were in their shoes, so would I. However, that was €50 million that was made available for a unique commemorative year in the history of our State. I have to reconcile that funding with the other things the Deputy is talking to me about. The following may be something the committee concludes on later in this process. As I look at all the competing and worthy needs the Deputy has raised, of which there have been many, if guidance can be provided to me regarding how we can maintain that €50 million while delivering all the other things Deputies have raised, that is input I would like to hear. I understand the need that is there and why the sector wants this, but I have to reconcile it with all the other demands on me.