Mr. Michael Starrett:

There is that, but in comparison with, for example, the Arts Council, which has been around for nearly 70 years, the Heritage Council is still a whipper snapper and in the 20 years since it was established it has raised the level of awareness. Dr. Gallagher, Ms Clerkin and Dr. Bourke have touched on the fight and how they have raised the level of awareness. What is needed now, in the context of a new strategic plan from the Heritage Council, a new national policy on heritage, is that it is matched up and that the funds and resources are there to allow that independence to be carried out. All civilised states look after the things the state owns, such as their cultural institutions. The State invests significant amounts in that now. It is beginning to answer that question. It looks after the national parks and the things that the State owns. What we are talking about is investment in the rest, namely, the communities and the places where people live. That should be an easy sell at a political level but it does not seem to be.