Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister and the Minister of State to the committee. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is very interested in pursuing the arts in education charter, and it is something which is also close to my heart. Will she update us on the progress made in her communications with the Department of Education and Skills and the short to medium-term targets for the charter? A number of cities are bidding to be the European capital of culture 2020, including my own. When will this process begin?

In her opening remarks, the Minister outlined very well the position with regard to Moore Street. In July this year the relatives of the 1916 leaders released a statement that they were very supportive of the Government's decision to proceed with the preservation of the four buildings. Has their view on this changed? Are they in support of the urban battlefield idea? If this is the case, I presume there is no funding for it because it would involve the preservation of the alleyways and the entire area on Moore Street. The original idea was to be financed by NAMA. I have much sympathy for the Minister, as she has worked quite hard behind the scenes on resolving the issue, but it looks like it is now an issue for Dublin City Council to resolve, although I know the Minister will do whatever she can informally behind the scenes. She outlined the fact she has no statutory function in this regard. It would be a shame to see a project such as this not come to fruition when one sees the plans put in place with regard to the historic trail from the GPO to Kilmainham courthouse and jail. Will the Minister consider putting in place an independent person who may be able to convene a meeting, if it were helpful, with the families to try to resolve the issue?

With regard to the centenary in general, the Minister mentioned it will be spread throughout the country. It would be appropriate to leave a legacy, which was mentioned by other members, by commissioning high-quality landmark arts projects in the spirit of the ethos of 1916, in particular of the artists, musicians and poets of the time who helped shape our identity. It would be very fitting and a very good way to spend money, which I know is not in great supply, to have a legacy in the regions and cities. Arts officers would work very well on commissioning such arts projects.