Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na finnéithe as a bheith anseo. Ó mo thaobh féin de, tá súil agam go mbeidh na finnéithe ag díriú isteach ar an nGaeilge agus ar na healaíona chomh maith. Tá fadhbanna mór ansin agus tá níos mó airgead ag teastáil.

I would like the Arts Council to continue the relationship with the committee that has begun today. While this particular committee may not always exist, a committee dealing with the arts will remain. Whether or not we are here in future incarnations, at least once a year, Professor Rafter and Ms McBride should appear before the committee to explain progress or the lack thereof. It would be useful for us because, as Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell noted, the committee's remit is vast and we bounce from one area to another. It would help, therefore, if we were focused by the Arts Council appearing before us once a year. Moreover, it would allow the council to see the committee as a vehicle through which it can express frustrations with the system or whatever it wishes. It should continue to appear before us when its annual report is published and use that as the vehicle.

Chun críochnú, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis na finnéithe agus go n-éirí leo. Sin ráite, déanfaidh mé an chuid seo den seisiún a chur ar athló.

We will adjourn for a few moments while we allow our guests for the next session to take their seats.