Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this debate and I welcome the visitors in the gallery. It is highly unusual to have such a large crowd in the Visitors Gallery for such a debate. That makes a statement in its own right. We are famed the world over for our arts, culture and heritage and we never miss an opportunity to play into that fame when elected officials go abroad for a business event and so on. I am not criticising that but think it should be acknowledged.

During the recent commemorations of 1916 we dedicated a significant amount of the occasion to artistic spectacles, highlighting the successes of our artists and their connections to the major historical events of 100 years ago, and rightly so. The outpouring of awe and pride after the airing of the superb centenary celebration which showcased our theatrical and musical talent was indicative of the importance of the arts and heritage sector in our lives.

If we reflect on our history and see, for example, the cultural revival and the significant role that played in the birth of our Republic we can see that if we are to strive for a second republic that is just as meaningful we must similarly ground that in art, literature, theatre, culture and sport.

This is a turning point. We have come from a crash and are starting a recovery, but it has to be meaningful. Our culture and art bind us together. We have to place a degree of importance on that in this debate and what we do afterwards.

Those involved in the cultural revival recognised that higher principles bind us together. They demonstrated those features in the artistic endeavours of our writers, musicians, artists and many others. If we are to take a leaf out of the book of Douglas Hyde and those involved in the cultural revival, we would see the opportunities and celebrate what unites us and the shared vision for our future and that of our country. That can only happen if we accept the need to foster the arts to that degree and fund it accordingly.

A significant section of our manifesto placed importance on the arts. We also highlighted in the recent election campaign that for too long Governments have ignored the arts, an attitude that is typified by the 55% cut to the arts since 2008, which predated the last Government. We are bottom of the European league for investment in culture and the arts, and data showed that in 2012 we spent less than 0.11% of GDP on arts and culture, compared to the European average of 0.6%.

The National Campaign for the Arts estimates that for every one euro invested by the Arts Council, more than 70 cent returns directly to the Exchequer in taxes. Every 30 cent of Arts Council investment generates €2.50 in turnover, which is more than an eightfold return on investment. It makes sense to invest in the arts. We should not disregard the fact that 21,000 people work in the sector, not including the many volunteers and enthusiasts. A report I read recently highlighted that just 11% of writers can survive on the earnings from their craft. This is a country that produced people like Yeats, Joyce and O'Casey. I wonder how many more people of that calibre we can produce if we continue to under-invest in the arts. The notion that artists like existing on fresh air or produce a better class of work by virtue of the fact that they are living in poverty, which focuses the brain, is a nonsense. The arts require significant investment.

I refer to the film industry. There have been some very good productions recently, such as "Vikings" and "Penny Dreadful". The expansion of the industry has been hampered by the availability of studio space. My colleague Deputy Stephen Donnelly would welcome a conversation with the Minister about that. He has worked with a group in Wicklow.

Approximately 87% of those who visited Ireland listed arts and culture as part of the reason they came here, yet we give tax breaks such as VAT to the likes of McDonald's and Starbucks. We need to start thinking much more strategically and consider the income that could be generated and invested in the arts. We cannot just have a debate today. We have to see an outturn from this in hard cash if we are to make a difference in the future. The investment may be small, but it is worthwhile.

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