Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In 2008, when there was much money being sloshed around, more of it tended to be spent on buildings than on artists creating work or performing. I am interested in the arts and the elderly, not least because I am getting older. I am also interested in the arts and the disadvantaged, which has been mentioned. As Professor Rafter will know, I spent 25 years working at Dublin City University. I know what the community means there and what the arts mean to the community. I refer also to the arts' relationship with both health and equality. Something which the Arts Council might like to consider along with the thousand other matters it will have to consider is that there should be a Department of the arts. It is such a significant area, as I have always said. The categories include art, drama, theatre, dance, music, language, performance and media. One can start with puppetry and end with Picasso or the Prokofiev ballet, "Romeo and Juliet", that took place the other day.

The Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations is in represented here. While it is not in competition with the Arts Council, it and the natural environment have to vie for attention, whereas language and perhaps the arts are more comfortably placed. The Arts Council might consider that because it could make more noise in a cultural way. It will also allow the council's budget to be extended, although it might not lead to a separate Department being created. There once was a Department with responsibility for the arts, culture and language, which would give independence to all the aspects the Arts Council outlined and allow for extensions. The Arts Council might consider making more noise in that regard if it believes it is a good idea. The arts should also be considered in the various Departments because the matter is so integrative. The Arts Council described it as a partnership but it is so integrative.