Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)

There were failures. That is a valid point. The Department failed, yet it seems, as a result of everything that is going on - such as the report that is in front of us today and the engagement that took place at the Committee of Public Accounts last week - that the Arts Council is being made a scapegoat. In particular, Ms. Kennelly has been thrown under the bus by the Minister by not having her contract renewed. Blame for the failures relating to this project seems to have been apportioned to the Arts Council. I am of the view that there was full transparency at every stage, from 2021 right up to 2024, on the part of the Arts Council. Yet, it is okay for the Department to state that it failed but that nobody within it is to blame. It is the Arts Council that is suffering and it is the director who has suffered. In turn, thousands of artists in this country are not getting the service they desire and deserve because of the failures in the Department. I do not think it cuts the mustard to state that the Department failed but that nobody was held accountable. Sorry, Chair, I understand I am over time.