Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

No, although I brought a choir there once. I will get back to that one in a second.

I strongly agree with the Minister's statement that the concert hall is "a major cultural asset". It is a beautiful place to go. I like its seats, its parking and its facilities. I would like to inform Deputy Ó Fearghaíl that as part of the Breaking the Cycle initiative, we brought our school choir to perform at the National Concert Hall. I remember how that lifted the Hardwicke Street and Dominick Street flats in the north inner city. There was great joy and celebration because local children were singing in the National Concert Hall. It was a fantastic thing to happen. Those children are now all grown up, but when I meet them on the street they still ask me whether I remember the day they sang in the National Concert Hall. I assure them that I do. There is a great deal of talent there. We should make sure the people use this national asset. It should not just be for the elite. We should bring the people in.

There is significant potential for getting children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities involved in the arts. I was at a fantastic show last Monday night in Rush, County Dublin. A group of adults with Down's syndrome put on a big production in the local theatre. I was very impressed by the level and standard of the acting from these young men and women, who are in their 20s and 30s. They have Down's syndrome and are very involved in the arts. Their drama teacher and the other staff there are absolutely great. It was a great show for all the people who were at it and there was a great buzz afterwards for the young people who participated in it. This is another area that we often forget. By the way, there is a quiet revolution going on out there. Adults and children with disabilities from areas that are never seen on television are involved in the arts. We see it now and again, but we do not see enough of it. In some areas, painters, artists, musicians and percussionists are coming up with fantastic projects in disadvantaged schools. We need to sow the seed when children are in junior and senior infants between the ages of four and six and let them develop from there. If we sow the seed and develop the arts, we will also develop the person. That is very important as well.

We have a glorious opportunity as we approach 2016, when we will all commemorate the 1916 Rising. There was a strong cultural and educational aspect to that revolution. We all need to focus on the themes and principles of the Proclamation, which speaks about issues like equality and social justice. There is a need to revisit those issues following the economic crash in this country. It would be a great thing to see. I am pleased that artists like Robert Ballagh are involved in the citizens' initiative. It is important that we let them go and do their thing in relation to the arts. At the same time, we need to make the arts more inclusive and broad. Some of the 1916 leaders were involved in education and the arts. We need to look at this aspect of the matter to commemorate their vision and courage. We should also refocus ourselves to see whether we are anywhere near the aspirations of the men and women of 1916. The sad thing, of course, is that we have a long way to go. It is never too late to change and that would be a very important thing. I am pleased that there will be many events in the National Concert Hall throughout 2016 in areas of the arts like poetry, music and writing. It is important to have all of these different aspects to it as well.

Section 32 of the Bill provides for the transfer of staff of the National Concert Hall Company on the establishment day on terms and conditions of remuneration that are no less favourable than those to which the person was subject before the establishment day. In other words, section 32 deals with the pay issue. We need to ensure the staff are treated with respect. They should not be messed around by being treated as the Clerys staff were treated. We have to modernise and make progress while ensuring people are treated with respect and dignity. That is something we should never lose, but we did lose it during the height of the so-called Celtic tiger when greed and selfishness crept into broader society. We need to row that back as well. That can be done by supporting assets like the National Concert Hall. I welcome the legislation. I strongly support the Bill. I wish the Minister well with all aspects of it. I hope she listens to the points I made today on behalf of the arts and the arts community. I hope she listens to the constructive proposals that have been made. I will strongly support any positive amendments that are tabled on Committee Stage.

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