Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept the arm's length principle by which the Arts Council works and also the cultural institutions. I refer to the legislation to put the National Concert Hall on a statutory footing. The institution will be accountable to the Minister for its corporate governance and how it spends its budget. Monetary controls will be in place. However, the artistic side of the cultural institutions will be left to them as their business. It is up to the Minister to ensure accountability for the taxpayers' money invested in these institutions.

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