Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

It is a tragedy that we find ourselves in this position. The new Government has continually emphasised the importance of cultural tourism but now top quality opera will be unable to be produced in our capital city. Figures suggest that cultural tourists spend seven times more than ordinary tourists.

Given the reduction in funding to the Arts Council in recent years, has the Minister received an assessment yet from the council on the financing of opera up to 2013? If he has, he might explain how it intends to finance opera and, if he has not, when does he expect to receive it?

What is the Minister's view on the development of opera in Ireland in the future? Does he intend to honour the outstanding debts of Opera Ireland guaranteed by his predecessor?

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