Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I was disappointed with the first remarks made by the Deputy, and then quite happy with the second half, because she began to touch on the reality of the position. This is not for me, I can assure the Deputy, a simple issue of looking at figures on a page, drawing lines through them and achieving an outcome. That would not work and it would be foolish to approach it simply on cost-saving lines. A vast range of issues must be considered and everyone is concerned with getting the maximum return from these institutions, to give them the greatest possible remit in terms of their public functions and to substantially increase the number of visitors they enjoy. Cultural tourism is now a big business in Ireland. I opened a conference yesterday in Dublin and I was very encouraged by the scale and numbers of people involved, as well as by the international participants. More than 3 million tourists last year — and probably more this year — visited or will visit the cultural institutions. That is not to say they should be just left as they are. To me the Deputy is suggesting that we do nothing. Do we need 40 directors, for example, in three galleries to make them function?

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