Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

The Deputy has asked many questions and I will try to answer as many as I can. My officials would not agree there has been a lack of consultation or information on amalgamations. There have been ongoing discussions about amalgamations for several years. The 2009 budget contained a decision to examine this matter. As Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan found out, there were consultations. These have been ongoing over the years. Now, with the Government's decision on public sector reform plan, there have been further consultations which are extensive and continuing. Any Deputy can put down a freedom of information request on these discussions.

As for the criteria, the Government directive was clear in this respect. It will be the best solution that will matter and the one which I will put to the Government.

Culture Ireland has been very effective since it was established in 2005. It was originally proposed that it would be a statutory agency but a decision was made against this in 2008. It has operated effectively within my Department. It is not an independent agency. It had a chief executive officer and an independent board, which was not statutory, which made decisions with the executive on grant applications. When I travelled to America with Culture Ireland, I witnessed its success in making significant connections. With the various artists who have been supported, there has been an attempt to repair the damaged image of Ireland in Manhattan and on Wall Street. It could be said the image of Ireland which Imagine Ireland has helped to create is very different from the example from four years ago. Culture Ireland, through Imagine Ireland, has helped in rehabilitating this image. I agree that Culture Ireland is very important and I am confident it will retain its dynamic nature and effectiveness. It will continue to support the arts community, as it has in the past eight years.

The head of Culture Ireland was very effective; he was an ambassador as much as he was chief executive officer and did a very fine job. Unfortunately, his contract came to an end and could not be renewed because of contractual arrangements established long before my time. The position of head of Culture Ireland has been advertised internally, not externally. I am convinced there are people with experience in the Culture Ireland executive who are adequately qualified to continue the work done by the previous chief executive officer.

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