Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)

Our arts and artists are this country's greatest ambassadors. Literature, poetry, plays, painting, theatre production, film and music making, whether traditional or classical, foster our native creativity, encourage and strengthen our sense of unyielding humanity and draw visitors from all over the world.

In my constituency of Galway West the artistic expression of our culture, led by a vibrant and unique community of creative minds, has given Galway an identity and soul of his own. The Cúirt International Festival, the Galway Arts Festival, the Galway Film Fleadh, the Stirling Sessions and the Galway Jazz Festival, among many others, are but the organised expressions of that ethos. Is mór an trua é nach bhfuil níos mó ama agam chun labhairt faoin bpáirt tábhachtach atá ag an nGaeltacht sa chultúr seo.

The arts sector contributes millions of euro to the economy and supports thousands of jobs.

The Galway Arts Festival has an economic impact of some €17.5 million, with almost two thirds of those attending shows staying in private accommodation. It has a major impact on the tourism sector and on employment. It is vital that the Government continues funding for the arts that is targeted towards well thought out and practical programmes that deliver.

I pay tribute to Galway City Council and its arts office. The council contributes a major amount of money to recognise the contribution of the arts. I pay tribute to the late Mr. Mike Diskin, former manager of the Town Hall Theatre, who played a major role in the development of community arts in Galway. I would like to see another useful debate on the value of the arts and where it is going. The economic impact of the arts is plausible and must be recognised but we cannot view the arts purely as a commodity, something on which to put a price. When I was a councillor and my predecessor in the Galway West constituency was a Deputy, I spoke with Michael D. Higgins about the cost overrun of the Town Hall Theatre. He told me it was never intended to break even or make money. It was meant to be a town hall theatre in which people could watch plays. If that requires a subsidy, so be it because arts and culture do not come cheap. Regardless of money, we must say that the arts are important and need public subsidy.

Our approach to the arts could be broadened. This could be a good debate if we had more time. I refer to the work of Mary McPartlan, who works in NUI Galway developing a programme to introduce arts into other disciplines such as engineering and medicine and more concrete subjects. The value of the arts in terms of creativity and opening people's minds to alternatives and different ways of doing things is a skill and a gift. We must broaden art beyond something that is in an art gallery or theatre. It is something within us all. I ask that the individuality and independence of the cultural institutions is maintained. It is extremely important and is vital to their survival.

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