Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I hope that throughout the country and through the education system, young people can be encouraged to write and to be creative, particularly given our history of storytelling. This history is no longer simply being linked to the cultural tradition. For example, if one takes the old Irish tradition of storytelling and links it to modern technology, one suddenly has an Oscar-winning animation industry. Such links also can be made and even on Culture Night, the Dublin Writers' Centre was open to allow people to participate in a never-ending story to which I added my own small paragraph. Various groups are engaged in activities nationwide, including a writers' museum and a writers' centre. However, I accept the point the Deputy is making is to try to encourage the literary aspect and having the UNESCO city of literature designation, to which Members will return later, is one way to build on that.

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