Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It will be four minutes, two minutes and three minutes.

I welcome very sincerely everyone in the Gallery from the arts sector. I compliment Deputy Smyth for tabling this motion today. I support fully her many sound proposals in the motion. "The arts" as defined under the Arts Act 2003 means: "Any creative or interpretative expression (whether traditional or contemporary) in whatever form, and includes, in particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, and includes any medium when used for those purposes;" The arts are something that define us as a nation and give us our distinct image and are seen by everyone who looks at Ireland. They are what shape us and our young people growing up and give us our distinct personality. For example, our music and dance are completely unique to this country.

I support the call to enhance music and dance in our schools, especially in primary schools. I remember being taken out for music and dance lessons as a young boy and it was great, it gave us a sense of involvement along with being then able to participate as I did in many Munster and all-Ireland fleadhanna cheoil. It is a big attraction for tourists and it was great for us as young people. It is our uniqueness that makes us as a nation. That is why I believe not only should we ensure we maintain what we have but also invest and expand in communities where all of this begins. I fully support Deputy Smyth's call for the introduction of an arts capital grant scheme, similar to the existing sports capital grant.

We are living in a golden era of Irish film in Ireland. We have received much international attention in recent years with Irish films winning in almost every major international award ceremony such as Academy Awards, the Cannes Jury Prize, the Golden Bear in Berlin and the International Confederation of Art Cinemas, CICAE, to name but a few. We have some of the most recognised and decorated actors in the world who represent our nation, including Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell, Michael Fassbender etc. Ireland is an excellent co-producing partner for European and international productions with a wide range of financial incentives for film and television, excellent facilities, stunning locations and award winning cast and crew on offer. The recent improvements to Ireland's tax incentive section 481 for film and television production has dramatically improved Ireland's competitive position as a film location.

When mentioning film, I have to compliment the actions of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, in the last Government, who was the sole person to ensure that "Star Wars" came to Kerry. She will go down in the pages of history as being the person who had the gumption to sign the order. I will always compliment her and give her the full credit for that. Everybody is shouting about it now and they are all delighted but it took a Minister with gumption at the time to make sure it became a reality.

I acknowledge the great work done by Noelle Campbell Sharp at Cill Rialaig in Ballinskelligs. She had a vision and did great things to ensure that the whole project under the chairmanship of my lifelong friend, Mr. Nicholas Browne of Ballinskelligs, developed at that time.

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