Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I note reports that the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, is already considering the deferral of those income tax cuts he promised six months ago, despite asking people at the time to trust him in this regard. I hope this change in economic scenery will not result in his slashing of budgets in sectors such as the arts. Yesterday I learned the Arts Council seeks funding of €100 million this year to help provide funding for 1,700 applications it receives from projects such as the Drogheda Samba Festival or the proposed new archive for the Irish Film Institute in Dundalk. While Ireland has a global reputation as a country of culture, most other European countries spend a greater proportion of their gross domestic product on the arts than do we. I ask the Deputy Leader to impress on the Minister that he must ensure that funding for the arts is maintained and, if possible, increased.