Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh:

The Department had previously been the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht without the word "Arts" in it. The previous title, "Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media", was seen to be a mouthful and the Minister was anxious we had a departmental name that was accessible. "Culture" is the term used in most similar European ministries: Ministère de la Culture in France, Ministero della Cultura in Italy and the culture council at EU level. "Culture" is the normal word used. Those are the reasons.