Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I worked in the arts most of my life. I am not outside reality, neither do I think the arts are outside reality. If one went to “Death of a Salesman” one would know where reality is and where we have got it wrong. I am urgent about it because one has a start with a passion and urgency. I know Mr. Ray Yeates has both. My question to him was whether he is trying to walk both those lines. I understand that but maybe my passion would come first.

I think this is somewhat vacuous. I am not a great believer in thousands of committees because it is an excuse for not getting things done. However, there is a moment of communication about it with stakeholders, young people and young vibrant communities. These are urgent. I am not saying Mr. Ray Yeates is not doing that individually. There would be a moment where even a sub-committee of three or four people could act as a conduit. The fact that they just did not do it is not good enough.

Maybe it was phrased incorrectly but Mr. John O’Hara said there are certain things in cities he does not want to replicate. He is right about that. We want to bring our uniqueness to the fore. There is no comparison between London and Dublin. We are 1.4 million people, for example. However, we have homogenised the worst of American culture, as well as the worst of awfulness from other buildings, and have not preserved as well as we should. Maybe we are learning now but we have not in the past. We have been disappointing in our main streets and thoroughfares. I have done much research on this for radio and TV, so I know what I am talking about. We have also done it in our towns and villages. I am not suggesting it is happening just in Dublin.

We are aghast sometimes when we have preserved something well. We do much right but we are not here to praise ourselves but to find better ways forward. We could be more definite in our moments of Joyce and I do not mean that particular building which has been in the news recently. I mean it in preserving a sense of ourselves. We are quick to come with the hammer and we do not even paint our towns. I understand Mr. John O’Hara’s point generally.

If one is in Barcelona and certain other cities, things are magnificently preserved compared to the greatness we have that we do not. I will not get into cycle lanes. I thank Mr. Yeates and the assistant secretary. I will keep him to his word.