Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the presentations, which touch on what this committee is really supposed to be about, namely, culture, heritage and the Gaeltacht. When I think of culture, I think of arts in the centre.

A few points have been raised. We seem to have to consistently convince the Government about the power of music. If the witnesses were not here - Mr. Ó Murchú from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and the people from Sing Out With Strings and Music Generation - along with many others that may not be present, I wonder where we would be with music education. It is beyond me. Where does the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht begin and the Department of Education and Skills end? I do not see any difference. This Department has an absolute remit when it comes to the education of the young. It must play a massive part but it tends to push it to the Department of Education and Skills, which, in turn, pushes it back. That Department has an enormous part to play as well.

Will Dr. McDonagh outline the core of the musical illiteracy within schools? Does it arise because there are not enough teachers of music or is it that we do not have any national legislation? It seems to come from today's meeting that without people outside the education and living curriculum structure, we would be in real trouble.

Will the witness speak a little about the tax incentives mentioned in the recommendations because that is an extremely interesting idea?

I am pleased to see a former colleague from the Seanad, Labhrás Ó Murchú. I was appointed to the Seanad in 2011 during his time there. He showed absolute strength as a Senator. It was wonderful for a new person, young in terms of my time in Leinster House and not necessarily young in chronological terms, although quite ageless at times. Labhrás Ó Murchú was a wonderful mentor and I used to watch the way he tackled ideas and arguments. He created Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, an outstanding organisation. What would he say to Dr. McDonagh about musical illiteracy because her point is correct? If he were to speak to officials in the Departments of Education and Skills and Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht about music, what would he say to them about what they should do that they are not doing?

I congratulate Ms Rosaleen Molloy, the national director of Music Generation, on all she has achieved in terms of the fundamental right to music in the two years since we met. We all get the concept. I have formed an impression that the Department is not leading. It is scoping out something else that it can get on the back of, or parallel to, this, but it is not leading. How would one get the Department to lead? What would one say to either of the Departments on how they should lead, as opposed to partner, which would be excellent? How much does the Department provide in funding to Music Generation?

The Irish Chamber Orchestra, Sing Out With Strings, is outstanding. I ask Mr. Gerard Keenan not to be afraid to tell me the meagre amount of money that is allocated to Sing Out With Strings? He mentioned sport and music and referred to Creative Ireland. Mr. Keenan's view on Creative Ireland is completely right. I asked a representative of Creative Ireland, who appeared before a committee, to tell me where it starts and the Arts Council ends? Who will be divvying out the money? What will happen? Who will be in charge of what? We are terrible in that we create another layer, call it something and then choke the four layers underneath it with the effect that the money gets divided and there is no centrality. What would he say to the Department? What lead would he give it? It is important I get answers to my questions because what I am hearing from the witnesses is that we might need legislation.

I cannot understand that in 2018 we give 25 extra points in the leaving certificate examination to those taking mathematics at higher level but have never thought about a similar allocation for arts subjects, that is, music or visual art, which might encourage students to take those subjects. We do not think it is worth it. One could say the same thing about geography or languages. We allocate additional marks for those who pass higher level mathematics and give those who fail at higher level the benefit of passing the exam. We are capitulating to the economy.

We no longer call the Department by its former name, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, but by its new name, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Does culture mean tourism and the economy? We will not allow a Department of arts to stand independently. The witnesses are independent, leading independent organisations and have an independent belief in the power of music. If I was 15 or 16 years of age and I was in trouble, I would not be looking to algebra to help me out but to music. Tom Murphy, God rest him, used to always bring singing and music into all his plays and said that when people sing, it is then that one knows who they really are. I would say the same when one plays music. One knows who a child is when he or she plays an instrument, or who he or she could be, or the potential there. One can come at this in a thousand different ways. We all know its power but the power needs legislation that is grounded because it seems to me that without the witnesses, all we are doing is adding to this and not leading.