Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have already said I think that would be a good idea. The Minister has been in the post for approximately two weeks. I am not sure he could have acted much more quickly at all. In fact, it would have been impossible to have acted more quickly in terms of bringing this issue to Cabinet. To be very clear, because Deputy Bacik has said it twice, this issue was not brought to the attention of the previous Government. It would have been preferable had it been. As recently as this morning, I had that matter checked with both the Secretary General of the Department of arts and with the secretary to the Government as well. The Department adopted a view that it was endeavouring to get on top of the issue or gather all the facts. I do not think that is a good position. It should have been highlighted at a much earlier stage.

Artists have been let down. The Arts Council does and has done great work, however, it has been let down by those who are running the organisation and who have left us with this mess, which contravenes the public spending code. That is what the initial examination tells us. Of course, there will have to be a full external review. The results of that will obviously have to be published, and we are happy to engage constructively on it.

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