Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with the Deputy. The committee I have established to examine the governance of the Arts Council is being led by Professor Niamh Brennan. It includes Margaret Cullen and John McCarthy. They have all in their own right plenty of experience of examining corporate governance in other areas as well. I do not disagree with the Deputy with regard to the Department's role but I have to find out first of all the level of detail that is required here. I will bring a report to the Government first and I will lay it before the Dáil. It is in my interests and in the Department's interests to get public confidence in the moneys that are voted from here to the Department in order to make sure that the Department and its agencies spend money wisely on behalf of the taxpayer. I have no issue with that. I am not suggesting that the Deputy is suggesting this, but I am not in any way attempting to hide anything here. The most important thing is that Niamh Brennan's committee be asked to do a body of work by me and get it done as quickly as possible. Separately, I will deal with the National Gallery and any other issues there as well, and I will lay all of them before the Houses of the Oireachtas. There is no issue in that regard.

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