Ms Maura McGrath:

As chair appointed last June, this was not the issue I expected to be dealing with but, along with the Arts Council executive team, I am here to provide full transparent information, to be accountable for our actions and to engage constructively with the committee - in other words to put right and move forward.

This project was not and is not an optional extra. It began out of necessity and it remains a necessity to be addressed. However, the expectation for small State bodies set up for specialist purposes to carry the load on complex IT projects should be questioned. It does not make sense for every State body to have an outsized ICT capacity in terms of the personnel required to deliver.

As chair of the Arts Council, I wish to support artists and arts organisations and the extraordinary work they do. They undertake this incredible work often for little reward. The board of the Arts Council is aware of the challenges within the sector. This context makes any loss of funds extremely disappointing and regrettable. I say to the arts community today that I will do everything in my power during my term to advocate for the continued development of the arts in Ireland.

What the board wants, working with our executive team and with the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, and his officials, is to ensure that we have an arts council that is expert, functional, efficient and alive with the sense of mission given to us by the Oireachtas in the Arts Act.

A full examination report was published by our line Department as referred to by the Secretary General. We accept the findings and are in the process of implementing many of its recommendations. In addition, the external review being undertaken and led by Professor Niamh Brennan may provide further opportunities for reform. We have co-operated fully to date and will implement any further recommendations.

I accept that this is a setback. The project has cost time and money, and has worried artists. I see our accountability today as the necessary step to restore confidence and to go forward to better deliver for artists and the extraordinary art they make for us, the audience.

I will hand over to Maureen Kennelly, Arts Council director.