Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all the people in the Public Gallery. It is great to see such a crowd. We do not normally get so many people here.

The arts are part of the DNA of the Irish State. Their very uniqueness is what makes us who we are as a people. In this sense, the arts and our cultural institutions are the key producers of Irish identity. In a mature society that values expression and creativity, the arts have the potential to enrich all our lives. They make us more human and help us to think about the world and our place in it in a more imaginative, innovative and abstract way. Irish artists enhance our international reputation through movie screens, bookshelves, theatres and concert stages. This presence, in turn, drives tourism from abroad.

At a more fundamental level, the arts and cultural institutions have a humanising effect on society by bringing softness, imagination and creativity to communities that have been forgotten in economic and infrastructural terms by those in power. In my city of Limerick we have found that one of the best ways of assisting new immigrants to integrate is through the arts. A progressive State arts policy must have inclusivity at its core. This requires us to value actively the everyday culture of ordinary people and not just "high art". In 2014 Limerick City of Culture opened up the arts to diverse groups across the whole of the city. Venues worked with a wide range of groups from across the city and the Lime Tree Theatre, in particular, hosted a performance from the residents of Moyross, which was well-received by everybody in the city.

The creative sector is important for the economy but its value must be about more than profit. Neither should we deprive localities of a vibrant arts scene by concentrating supports for the arts in the capital. The heritage and culture of Ireland belong to all the people on the island of Ireland. It is the State's responsibility to ensure we have an independent and vibrant arts sector.

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