Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, and I thank him for bringing forward this important Arts Bill. The Bill is important because the arts play an important role in society at many levels. This legislation is necessary to clarify the roles of the Arts Council and the Minister, the functions of the council and the relationship between the council, the Minister, local authorities and the arts community.

I have been made aware, through media reports, of the issue about which Senator Ó Murchú spoke so eloquently, but I have not been a close participant or a player as he has been. I have been able to observe the issue from the sidelines. Having listened to the Senator's remarks, I hope that there will not be a conflict between the traditional arts and other art forms, as that is something I would regret. We do not want to achieve such a conflict. It should not be the case that the traditional arts see themselves almost as victims of an official attitude which seems to exclude them or create a situation where they do not feel they are getting a full share of support, financial or otherwise, but this is what I have heard from Senator Ó Murchú. If that is the case, we should work to ensure that differences are overcome and the hurt that exists is healed.