Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the positions on the Arts Council were advertised by the Minister's predecessor and were described as being pro bonopositions. If people did not apply because they understood the positions were pro bonoand it has now transpired that the members are being remunerated, how can the Minister reconcile that? Is the Department, the Minister or the Arts Council at risk of legal challenge from somebody who might have applied had he or she known the position would be remunerated and now finds that the successful applicants are being remunerated? There seems to be a significant inconsistency in that situation.
On the issue of the payment of the grant, is the Minister telling us that an official was involved in the process whereby a grant was to be paid, but when the matter was discovered the application was then withdrawn and the grant not paid?