Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not and I thank the Minister for saying so. It was through the arts that I met people of different sexualities. For a young guy, growing up in rural Ireland at the time, sexuality was closed and not spoken about. Thankfully, it is much more open and liberal today, which is fantastic and accepted. I found that the arts were a great medium of communication and a great way to meet people from different backgrounds and of different sexualities and whatever else and to integrate through a different medium. I wonder what arts programmes are available and what their objectives are because the arts can be powerful and a subtle medium of communication.