Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations, which was like manna from Heaven and music to my ears. Last week, all female politicians were invited to visit an artist who is doing a large and wonderful portrait in recognition of the 100 years of women getting the vote. Like other Members, I went to meet the artist. I was very taken aback by the fact that, as he did in regard to the portrait for the Northern Ireland Assembly, he is doing this portrait in visual art form. The manner in which he is going about doing this portrait is extraordinary. While I was talking to him he asked me why politics does not do more of this work. I had no answer for him. Politics tends to see itself outside of something as nebulous as the arts even though it so real in all of our lives, from a two year old to a 92 year old. As I said, the presentations today were manna from Heaven. I enjoyed listening to them and learning about the work the organisations are doing.

My background is in the arts. When I was an M.Ed student I wrote a thesis entitled "Drama and the Education of Feeling", in respect of which I recall a tutor asking me, "what is that about?". The arts are about feeling and who we are. I recall trying to battle my way through that tower at the time and I might have been on the right path. I am great believer in the arts for themselves rather than as an alignment to something else. The arts are themselves a majesty. Dance, drama, music, mime, ballet, movement and literature do not need to be aligned to anything. The arts stands on its own, like physics or chemistry. I come at this from that power.

Has the National Council for Curriculum Assessment, NCCA, pushed for 25 extra points for music or art on the leaving certificate curriculum? We were happy to do that for mathematics, thus rolling over for the banks, as all the universities did. Why can young people not get 25 additional parts for visual art or music, which are leaving certificate subjects? Perhaps in years to come dance and other arts will be leaving certificate subjects. If we did this, it would position arts as a serious subject rather than an activity one engages in because one is good at it and so on. I would welcome a comment from all of the witnesses on that proposal, which is very practical, although very political. Will they also comment on teacher training and the quality of teacher training in arts at primary and secondary level? There is a presumption that the arts is half entertainment. It is almost as though arts capitulates to the profit margin or the tourist margin and it does not stand on its own. The view is that arts is very good tourism and that it is great to have the arts in towns as they encourage tourists in and so on. Perhaps the witnesses would comment on whether we are coming at the arts from the wrong angle and on where they stand in regard to the level and quality of teacher training, the teacher training colleges and courses.

Do the witnesses believe we are only changing the language for something that already exists? In other words are we putting "ings" onto create, explore, participate, appraise and respond, such that it looks like we are doing something new but in fact we are already doing it? On the quality of the arts, who is to train the teachers in that regard? The artists cannot be asked to do it because they have enough to do. Do all of the organisations really work together? I have heard that there is collaboration and that all the organisations are coming at something from the same angle but does that actually happen? Do the organisations speak to each other? I note that Ms Comer said that the ETBs had held conferences on the arts. Are the organisations saying the same things with different titles? Are they all doing the same thing but differently?

What do the witnesses think the committee can do to help? I would like each of the witnesses to give me something real and practical in that regard. I suppose the main wish would be more funding. From where does the NAPD get its funding? Has the Arts Council ever contacted NAPD to congratulate it on the work it is doing and to offer it funding? Can it apply to Creative Ireland for funding? I was very interested in what was said about the portal. It seems to be a Willy Wonka factory, such that everything one ever wanted to know is on the portal. I am confused as to what it was. I should perhaps have looked into it more, and I will do but perhaps the witnesses would elaborate on that.

What is Dr. Sweeney's understanding of research in the arts? I am pleased all of the witnesses are here today. So much of politics is about what is going wrong. I agree with the witnesses that in terms of the arts this is a really exciting time. Ms Comer made the brilliant point that the arts, culture and heritage are connected to local authority arts office librarians and others. So much of our world in terms of where we ask children to live and to play is ugly. I know this because I did a report on growing old in Ireland in which I referenced how elderly people watched while pipes were erected on walls outside their windows yet did not even have access to a tree. There is a huge area of visualisation of environment within arts structures. I could go on for hours. I am so pleased to open up dialogue on how in any way we can help.

The witnesses must tell us what we can do to move it on and to keep it alive in the Seanad and on the Dáil floor for them. That is why they are here and why people come in here. I am very interested in it and I know the Deputies, one of whom had to leave, are extremely interested in what the witnesses are doing and in moving it on. It is the first time that we have a real collaboration between education and arts. They can see each other as pivotal and on the same merry-go-round. Will the witnesses speak to that?