Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this very timely debate. I was first elected in 2007 and I do not recall a previous Private Members' motion on the arts, heritage or culture and it is very opportune that we having this debate this evening. There is a large amount of cross-party common ground which is good to see.

I have no doubt about the Minister's commitment to the arts. Anybody who follows him in a cursory fashion as I do as he travels to his home constituency of Kerry will see the many occasions on which he stops in Limerick county and city. I am particularly taken with the fact that he does not attend the high-profile places. He attends the lesser-known institutions involved in the performing arts, museums and cultural centres. This is very welcome and it is very refreshing. It was very noteworthy that when he launched his book in Limerick he went to the Frank McCourt Museum in Limerick city. It raised the event's profile. I do not know whether the Minister raised Frank McCourt's profile or whether he raised the Minister's profile; perhaps it was a 50:50 arrangement.

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