Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)

I am fortunate to represent the constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny and to have held the position of chairperson of the special policy committee on arts, heritage and tourism for several years while a member of Kilkenny County Council. For this reason alone I am a major supporter of the arts. Of all the sectors in society in Ireland today, the arts, culture and heritage sectors are the only sectors that have never let us down.

I have become aware of the significant position that Kilkenny holds in the national heritage and cultural areas. I am proud of the fact that Kilkenny has earned the accolade of the cultural heart of Ireland and the home of heritage due to its legacy from the former Minister and now President, Michael D. Higgins. He initiated the decentralisation of the Heritage Council to Kilkenny some years ago. I have seen at first hand the good feeling that comes from this sector. The arts and culture sectors are unique not only because of their employment creation potential but because of the sustainability of such employment and what it generates for local communities and economies. Any amount of statistical information shows how the creative industries benefit economies and communities. For us, the arts is like money in that it is not everything but it is everything else.

People who work in these areas have proven to be progressive thinkers. This is why I am eager to participate in the Private Members' debate brought forward by Fianna Fáil. I note, however, that we are having this discussion as a result of Fianna Fáil's maladministration while in government, to which the previous speaker referred. It is entertaining that after one year in the Opposition benches, they appear to have all the answers.

Having worked in the cultural sector I have watched with interest the development of the national cultural institutions over the years. I advise caution in making any material changes to these institutions because of the considerable investment in skills and funding that the people have contributed. The public reform plan 2011 proposed to merge the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Crawford Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Ireland while retaining their separate identities.

Several employees working in the visual arts attended a public forum organised by the Irish Museum of Modern Art in 2009. It featured speakers involved in similar amalgamations elsewhere. The general consensus was that merging institutions did not bring about the desired result. Given other circumstances I would agree with such a statement but the fact is that we are now living in difficult times. All Department must introduce reform mechanisms to retrieve savings. The country has been forced into an environment in which competing interests are vying for limited, scarce resources and we are all left between a rock and a hard place. We have been forced into a position today whereby our heritage is competing with the rights of those on social welfare, the demands of those in desperate need of medical care and assistance and the rights and obligations we have towards our children in respect of education, transport, special needs and other resources. This is a difficult position to be in. I have always been a great advocate of the arts and I note the Minster has said that his door is open. Last night the Minister stated that some recent commentary has suggested that he was planning to effectively dismantle these organisations but that he was planning no such thing and nor was the Government. I thank the Minister for that assurance.

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