Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Dr. Whitty and Ms Heaney for their presentations. I have three questions. I am conscious that Dr. Whitty said that 68% of museums in Ireland are independent and community or volunteer-led. Ms Heaney talked about some of our national cultural institutions, which have somewhat of a State cushion. Will the witnesses outline some of the financial challenges those independent and community and voluntary museums face? What measures are now necessary to ensure they can get back on their feet?

Ms Heaney mentioned the opportunities for late-night opening, which is very important, and the night-time economy. What do we need to do to ensure that our cultural institutions can open later at night? There is some evidence that it happens, but we need to do more.

During the pandemic, we saw the amazing digital offerings of some of our museums and galleries. Some of what came out was incredible. How can we further enhance that? I am particularly thinking of the educational context and linking in with schools. Some very imaginative programming has been funded. The National Gallery of Ireland did some incredible stuff during the period, for example. Even now, as it gets back up and running, the Yeats exhibition it has put on is excellent.

Those are my three questions. One relates to the financial challenges facing the independent sector, the second is about how to get more late-night opening and the third is about how to further enhance the digital offering so that it can link in with the education system further.