Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)

However, these people did not attend the committee and for them to come in and table a motion this evening is just a cynical exercise and is trying to beat Sinn Féin in a race to the bottom. That does nothing for the arts.

What the Minister said is right. We are in the middle of a consultation process and it is a bit ironic and premature for anybody to try to pre-empt the Minister's decision. That is particularly the case when it is a party that is trying to restructure itself and to present itself as credible. It is ironic that it will come out and oppose the consolidation and rationalisation of back office services without coming up with any credible solutions as to where to find the €15 billion for the hole it created. Week in and out we come in here for Private Members' Business and listen to Fianna Fáil oppose everything. That is grand, because Fianna Fáil must take on Sinn Féin. However, while Fianna Fáil opposes everything, it never comes up with a positive suggestion. All I would like to see is to see is ------

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