Joe O'Toole (Independent)

There was a time when it was said rural Ireland did not have enough festivals and that nothing was happening. We should be concerned about keeping things alive. Let people organise events. What is wrong with holding festivals? They are a means for people to get together and celebrate. We should encourage them to be creative in their approach to finding things to celebrate. There is enough dullness in the world without legislators injecting more of it. I ask the Minister to go easy on this aspect.