Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)

We have been let down entirely by the banking community who have nearly brought the country to its knees. We depend on the arts community for the energy, creativity and vision to help us stand up again. I call on all Senators to make sure the budget is not cut.

In 2010 the Arts Council received €68 million, €65 million from the national lottery. The national lottery revenue is gathered from lower socio-economic groups, unskilled workers, the unemployed and those with lower educational qualifications so who is paying for the arts? Is it like the banking transfer of artistic wealth from the less well off to subsidise the better off and the better artistically to be able to avail? I would like to hear the Minister's thoughts and whether he might walk the arts where they do not easily reside.

Kurt Vonnegut, my favourite, said the arts make life bearable. They have certainly made all my life bearable. Practising an art, no matter how well or how bad, will make your soul grow. Electronic communities do not do that. We are dancing animals. How great it is to get up, to go out and do something.

I ask for three things. First, fight for a bigger budget. I will help. We will all help. I ask the Minister to implement the arts in education as a truly qualitative, imaginative, creative form on the national school curriculum and using their money from the Lotto walk the arts into thorns and into places unknown and unnoticed. When in doubt, Minister, and without money, be brave and build a castle.