Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his reply which highlights more concerns, rather than providing answers to these questions. There is deep anxiety within the arts sector about the proposed mergers of various cultural institutions, the absence of criteria for these reforms and, despite the Minister's remarks, the lack of consultation with stakeholders. In Fine Gael's pre-election document it promised that the discussion on the arts would be driven up the Government's agenda and that the arm's length principle would be respected. Is this latest development another in a long list of broken promises?

The cultural institutions are of systemic importance to our cultural heritage, identity, tourism industry and international reputation. Recently I attended a conference entitled, Culture and the Economy, which the Minister's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, addressed. She spoke about the importance of our cultural institutions in terms of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union at the beginning of next year. It is imperative that our cultural institutions retain their autonomy and independence. Will the Minister commit to leaving the independent boards in place, protecting their autonomy and ensuring qualified directors are left in place in the cultural institutions? Given their independent nature under the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997, will he confirm that the public service moratorium does not apply to cultural institutions? Will he ensure all future directorships in the cultural institutions will be advertised externally? It is a matter of concern that the position of CEO in Cultural Ireland is only being advertised internally which runs contrary to the Government's commitment in respect of job advertisements. Will the position be advertised externally?

The Minister referred to the importance of philanthropy in funding this critical sector. Does he agree that it would be much easier to attract philanthropists if the independent boards were left in place and the Government stuck to its pre-election promise and retained an arm's length policy, that is, separating cultural institutions from political interference?

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