Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, it would not have been a decision of a Cabinet sub-committee to transfer or divert money from one section of a Vote to another.

Cabinet sub-committees are treated as smaller versions of the Cabinet, as it were, and confidentiality is supposed to be adhered to. However, I notice that there are questions in the House that ask very directly about issues that were discussed at Cabinet sub-committee meetings, and I cannot not say that these issues were not raised or discussed.

I agree with the Deputy about the arts. Einstein said that imagination is the greatest force, and it is true that that is how we project Ireland on the international stage or for ourselves. Is it not the excitement of the hurling or football match that creates a passion among Irish people? I recall attending the Eurovision Song Contest years ago, when Riverdance was presented in its final magnificence. There was a stunned silence before an explosion of welcome for something that was as old as Ireland but had been translated into a modern presentation of something we are ourselves. That was an expression of art that was viewed by 200 million people in China, and by many others when Michael Flatley, Jean Butler and all the other dancers and backup groups did their thing on the world stage.

We provided €500,000 last year for the Yeats centenary in Sligo. Consider the numbers who came there from abroad because of the power of that person to write what people were thinking - their thought streams addressed in a way that they might not be able to do themselves but in a way they could understand. That is a part of Irish art as well. Walk through Cill Rialaig on a bad day to Bolus Head and feel the power of the environment, the artists who worked there and the light streaming through the windows and the roof. These are things we present to China, Japan, America and other countries. I had the privilege a few weeks ago of launching the Ireland 100 in the Kennedy Centre in Washington before 2,500 people. Some of our country's most artistic singers, dancers, creators and musicians were presenting their ability to the world. Of course we present these things. Why would we not? I agree with the Deputy. The first word in this Department title is "Arts."

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