Professor Kevin Rafter:

I am not being evasive. In terms of the briefings I have had in recent weeks and in preparing for today, the Arts Council is involved in a huge amount of activity. Part of the role of an incoming chairman is to watch, listen and see. I might not have all the answers and the detail today that I would have if I had been 12 or 18 months in the role. There are various organisations in this area but the Arts Council is the most important and has been for nearly 70 years. It is the premier, dominant organisation and it has the largest reach.