Ms Maura McGrath:

I will address the feminist question first and then the questions on outreach and socioeconomic diversity, which are particularly important. It is interesting to note that 60% or 70% of the audience of the National Concert Hall is female, so from that point of view, women are very well represented. However, if one looks at the artists, the picture is different. When the National Concert Hall was developing the Composing the Island project, for example, very few female composers were included at the early stages. I cannot give the committee a percentage change in that regard but if members look at our current calendar of events, there is a very equal distribution with regard to artists representing both genders. That is one element of the issue, in terms of providing role models in terms of performance and participation. This issue is addressed in our strategy, in terms of the National Concert Hall being a diverse organisation at operational level and through its outreach programmes and this is something about which we will be more deliberate as we move forward. In my own personal experience, I have been very passionate with regard to equality across all areas and am committed to continuing that. For me, it is part of the way we live and the way we behave.

The question of socioeconomic equality and making the arts available to everyone is interesting. One of the wonderful things about the National Concert Hall is that, from a price point of view, it recently was made affordable for people, which is extremely important. I am not sure, not having researched the issue, but I think there are some concerts which are offered free of charge. Socioeconomic considerations, from an attendance point of view, are very important. I do not think price is a prohibitor because we have many ways of looking at it but at the same time, we are a commercial organisation in part and so must think about it from that point of view.

Outreach is a major consideration for the National Concert Hall, in terms of getting to wider audiences, including those from different socioeconomic groups. In that context, digitisation is very important in terms of offering virtual opportunities. Children sitting in classrooms all over this country should be able to switch on and watch the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, for example, playing in the concert hall, at little or no cost. That is where we are coming from on that issue.