Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I love the line that Captain Boyle comes out with in "Juno and the Paycock" when he asks, "what is the moon?" and "what is the stars?". I think we could ask the question as well today: what are the arts? We know the traditional answer and we know that it encompasses everything from painting to sculpture, architecture, music, poetry, literature, the performing arts, dance, film, photography and crafts.

We could say that all of us have been touched, in one way or the other, by the arts. For me, the arts are not just about the big theatres, art galleries, lavish productions, blockbusters, Oscars and Booker prizes but are also about the smaller productions and the community initiatives and ventures. Dublin has been very lucky with quite a number of these. I am thinking about the smaller theatres such as Draíocht, Axis, The New Theatre, the Viking and the Seán O'Casey centre and about all the local festivals, whether it is Phizzfest or the Five Lamps. Most of these began as just a small idea from a group of people. I will move outside of Dublin to another place I love, that is, Cape Clear Island where about 20 years ago, a couple of people had the idea of a storytelling festival. It has now become an international storytelling event.

A recent initiative in Drumcondra is linking business and the arts. It is taking over available spaces for people in the arts, whether painting, music, dance or theatre. Allied to that is space for start-up businesses. The business and arts link has been acknowledged by our colleges with their degree offerings in arts and business, such as those from NUI Maynooth and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

I think all Deputies have an example of the way in which the arts have been part of their communities and constituencies. I have a particular interest in theatre and in education and I am very sad to see the demise of TEAM Theatre. It did great work in our schools around particular issues. It presented the issues in drama form and then followed up with discussions with the students. I also acknowledge the initiative by the Abbey Theatre with local schools and youth group groups in the vicinity. All of these initiatives contributed to the development and stretched the abilities and potential of young people. We know that the arts have a role in encouraging diversity and tolerance. The arts are also good for mental health, on which we could all do more, including in this establishment.

It is very difficult to see how the Government is recognising the wealth of the arts when it includes the arts in a very wide portfolio. What is the reasoning apart from a very vague and woolly point about the arts being important in rural Ireland, which nobody denies.

I will now turn to the work of the Association of Artists Representative Organisations, AARO, which tells us about the reality of life for artists and the way in which they were extremely badly hit during the recession. We know that artists are poorly paid and that it is a very unstable career. Artists' freelance status excludes them from many of the safeguards which are normally provided for those in employment. Artists do not have collective bargaining rates of pay in respect of freelance creators. Collective bargaining would enable artists' organisations to negotiate minimum terms and better contracts. Ireland is behind the EU average for spending on arts.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in this State is the person who issues the licence to net live hares for live here coursing. I do not think that is in the brief of any minister for arts and culture in any country in Europe.

In regard to Moore Street and the High Court challenge, the potential for an historical cultural quarter there could be lost and what we could end up with is a glass box and more shops selling leprechaun hats and covers for mobile phones. That to me is not culture. We are talking about cultural policy and I hope there is real engagement on that with communities throughout the country.

Maidir lenár dteanga dúchais, ní dóigh liom go bhfuil go leor á dhéanamh againn chun tacú leis an teanga agus is páirt an-mhór í sin inár n-oidhreacht chomh maith.

See this speech in context