Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

That freedom is especially important in the arts. The competencies, expertise and networks at director and board levels within our cultural institutions are of critical importance. I agree with the Minister and some of his Government colleagues who mentioned last night that the arts have always been dealt with on the basis of consensus. That is why we are asking Members to support our motion. I acknowledge the commitment to the arts that has been shown by the Minister since he took office last year. He protected the arts budget last year by ensuring it was reduced by just 3%. I would be failing in my duty as an Opposition spokesperson if I did not use this platform to open a debate in this House on an issue that is being widely debated in the arts community. Last night, the Minister appeared to be taken aback about the fact that people have highlighted this issue through the media. I remind him that people are entitled to avail of their right to freedom of speech.

In November of last year - almost nine months ago - the Government published a public service reform plan that included proposals for certain cultural institutions to be merged. Since then, it has wasted an opportunity to engage meaningfully and purposefully with the interested parties and the general public. Many of the fine institutions in question, which belong to the people of the Republic, predate the founding of the State. I believe they will be around for a long time after we are gone. The secret discussion and consultation that has been initiated by the Government in recent months came about following political pressure and the high-profile resignation of Professor Diarmaid Ferriter from the board of the National Library. The Minister said last night that this approach needs to be taken for economic reasons, as a consequence of the economic mismanagement of recent years. I was disappointed this evening to hear Deputies comparing cuts in arts funding to reductions in other services. I suggest that is like comparing apples and oranges. These mergers will not generate any savings.

They are a box-ticking exercise so that the Minister can go back to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and say he has reduced the number of boards within his Department.

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