Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)

I welcome the opportunity to debate Ireland's cultural infrastructure and the importance of our cultural institutions. As someone who has been immersed in cultural life both professionally and as a citizen, I value the key role that cultural institutions play in helping us to present various manifestations and expressions of our identity and our Irishness. They are often the first reference point for visitors to this country, particularly those who are interested in our history and culture and they also help us to project ourselves to the outside world.

I remind those who have mobilised around the subject matter of this debate that rationalising the management structures of certain institutions is not the same as interfering with the arm's length relationship that we all cherish. It would be foolhardy of any Government to interfere in the curatorial and decision making independence of our cultural institutions. This is a direction that would not sit easily with me. However, there are ways in which the operation and management of these institutions can be reformed without compromising their autonomy.

Certain institutions connected to the arts merit the type of attention our cultural institutions have attracted from the Minister and the cultural sector in the context of this debate. I am sure others in the sector are as concerned as I am at the evisceration of a host of regional theatre companies through the unceremonious withdrawal of their core funding. This is not an abstract or academic point; it affects real people. Working artists and administrators are now facing an uncertain future. The net effect of this type of decision is to centralise professional theatre in selected areas and call into question the commitment to the regions. I trust that the arts sector is as disturbed as I am by this worrying trend and that everybody who campaigns and cares for a viable and professional arts sector will take as strong a stand on those grievous issues as they have done in respect of our cultural institutions.

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