Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has consistently said in the press that the council should be independent in the performance of its functions with regard to the funding of the arts. What the Minister is failing to tell people is that in Part 2, section 5 of the Arts Act 2003, the Minister can issue a directive to the Arts Council to suspend funding or future funding to any organisation. Why is the Department consistently saying it has no mandate in terms of the funding of the arts, when in reality, under Part 2, section 5 of the Act, the Minister can issue a directive.