Seanad debates

Wednesday, 27 July 2011

11:00 am

Photo of Paschal MooneyPaschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

Senator Ó Murchú and I share many interests. We had not discussed this in advance but I had also intended to call for a debate on the arts. The Leader explained during a previous sitting why he feels it is not possible to have such a debate before the recess and this is a pity. I am strongly influenced in making a contribution this morning by the comments of Colm McCarthy at the MacGill Summer School. He seemed to suggest we would not gain anything economically from promoting the arts. I must say I was somewhat astonished because this flies in the face of the reality, which is that the only heroes the Irish people look to are those in the sporting world and the arts. They are leading the field in this regard, as was explained. We are most definitely a country punching way above our weight in artistic and sporting endeavour.

I wish to lend my voice to those of Senator Ó Murchú and others in asking the Leader to introduce at the earliest possible opportunity a debate on the arts. It is important, if for no other reason than to allow the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, who has got off to a flying start, to come to the House and outline the Government's policy. I agree with Senator Ó Murchú that the Minister is a decent man. Such a debate might also help to improve the national psyche in that it would be an opportunity for all sides of the House to wallow in the national pride we have in our artists and sports people. Like many Members of the House I had the opportunity to visit the Abbey Theatre and I thank Senator Mac Conghail for allowing us that pleasure. We saw a play by a former Member of the House, Brian Friel, with whom I had the honour of sharing the Chamber. We also met some of the actors, who are wonderful people and great representatives of the continuing Irish theatrical tradition.

The storm clouds are gathering internationally with regard to the economy and I share Senator White's insistence - and that is the right word to use - that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation come before the House to outline the Government's policy. One has only to look at the financial press in the past two days, particularly the remarks of the former French finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, who is now in charge of the IMF. A newspaper article reports that she stated the single biggest threat now facing the world economy is the sovereign debt crisis. We are far from being out of the woods. In the same newspaper, David McWilliams bemoaned the fact that for the €1.1 billion we are giving away 14% of our major bank in what could be considered a fire sale but is being lauded as a sign of confidence in the Irish economy.

There are issues the House needs to debate. When the Minister, Deputy Bruton, was in opposition he spouted on national radio and television about everything that should have been done for the period he was not in government. Now that he is in government we do not see sight nor sound of him in the House. We deserve the courtesy of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation coming before the House-----

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