Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

Does the Minister agree that, in its centenary year, the national theatre, which was the theatre of Yeats, Synge, O'Casey and Lady Gregory, got into a very sad state? Has a decision been reached on the restructuring of the Abbey's governance structures, which the Minister described as Victorian in character? Does the Minister propose to make changes to the Arts Council's role in funding the Abbey Theatre? He was quoted as considering direct funding of the theatre rather than its funding through the council. Does the Minister intend his Department will play a more hands-on role on the monitoring of the theatre's finances?

I take it the report to which the Minister referred is that which was presented as the report of an independent consultant charged to consider why there was such an overrun from touring plays which travelled internally and to the USA and Australia last year.

See this speech in context