Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The orchestras are being caught up in the RTÉ financial challenges. The allocation to the orchestras from the licence fee revenue is around 7% or 7.5%. I do not want the Taoiseach's analysis, I only want a commitment to intervene on the matter to see if something can be done. Something can be done. Look at the Creative Ireland budget. We have asked several parliamentary questions and put in requests under freedom of information and of the €5 million allocated to Creative Ireland last year, almost a million was allocated to citizen engagement. What is that about?

It involved a full-page spread in the The Irish Timessupplement magazine for 12 weeks and two supplements in the Irish Independent, with a weekly and ongoing double spread. In Saturday's edition of The Independent, there was a regional print and media campaign, costing €900,000, and €400,000 was spent on web and digital content, €145,000 on a director, €50,000 on an event co-ordinator and €205,000 on two contract staff. Out of the €5 million, we have already accounted for €1.5 million on what seems to be a very determined effort to keep the media onside by doshing out lots of advertising. I have no problem with supporting the media but it should be done on a stand-alone basis, separate from Government and from its political arms. The orchestra could have done with that €1.5 million. Let us at least support that which has depth, solidity and tradition. The RTÉ orchestras are the jewel in the crown of our cultural life but they are losing positions and those positions are not being replaced, yet we get these fantastic press releases, gatherings and announcements on money being frittered away. That money could have gone to the orchestras or to consolidate what we have in our artistic infrastructure, while keeping it at arm's length from political patronage, which is the wrong way to fund arts and culture.

The Arts Council was set up as an independent arm, separate from politics, to fund the arts. I do not like what is happening and I am principally making a plea for the orchestras because they are going to continue to be the victim of what is going on with RTÉ as a result of the fact that the station is in deep financial trouble. We cannot wash our hands of that either, but it is another day's work. We should not pretend it is all RTÉ's problem - the Government has to intervene to save the orchestras.

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