Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister and I have both put on record our admiration for the management and board of the National Concert Hall, and we recognise their achievements over the years. However, in his response the Minister has not addressed the reason for the resignation of the five board members. It is not every day of the week that five members of the board of a national institution resign. Are they resigning because of the legislation the Minister is proposing? Do they disagree fundamentally with that or are there other reasons? Are there other factors in terms of the governance of the National Concert Hall? Do they concern the focus of the board? That is what we have been given to believe by a resigning member of the board who has spoken out to give the public some information on what has been going on.

With all due respect, the Minister has given us no new information on the dispute and the problem that exists. He simply told us who is there and who will replace those who have left. We want to know what has been the problem with this institution which, in 2012, received €2.4 million of public money. It has a record of serious achievement in the performances it has mounted over the years. It is an institution that has the respect of the Irish people, as well as many international performers, and overseas visitors who have come here to attend performances in the National Concert Hall.

Now, however, we see there is a level of disarray among the board members. Why is that happening? The Minister should tell us because the Irish people want to know.

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