John Whelan (Labour)

I understand. It is an indication of the importance and central role played by the arts in Irish society that we are having this debate. I commend the Government and particularly those who drew up the programme for Government in difficult economic times for ensuring that the arts has a full Minister in Deputy Deenihan, at the heart of Cabinet. That is a recognition of the importance that the arts play.

The arts are justifiably centre stage in an Irish political forum today and it is right and proper that they are represented at the Cabinet table. They play a central role in all our lives and are not only invaluable to our social, cultural and educational fabric but, as stated here, play an important role in the economy and in the tourism industry, with an estimated 10,000 people directly employed in the arts and responsible for generating €3 billion in revenue. Not everything that is important can be measured in euro. We are paying a heavy price for that lesson today.

Let no one doubt the international currency of Riverdance, U2, Roddy Doyle, Joseph O'Connor, Paul Durcan, Colm Tóibín, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Gabriel Byrne, Seamus Heaney, Des Bishop, Pat Shortt, Martin McDonagh, Mannix Flynn, John B. Keane, Brian Friel, Mick O'Dea and Robert Ballagh. The list stretches for as far as the eye can see. Everyone could include their personal favourites, but that is what the arts are all about - audience participation.

I will take this opportunity to pay tribute to some contemporary talents, including Eugene O'Brien, the playwright from Edenderry, and the young actor Robert Sheehan from Portlaoise. I am certain we will see more of their work and that it will enlighten and entertain us and inspire across the world's stage.

The arts stretch from the heart of Dublin in the Abbey Theatre to the picturesque streets of Abbeyleix and its small fledgling community arts festival. From the National Concert Hall to the rolling fields of Stradbally, which play host to the Electric Picnic, the arts are not a fuddy-duddy, elitist, exclusive enterprise. They are all around us on a daily basis and engage, excite, enlighten and educate us all. Pound for pound, the arts owe us nothing. They give great value for money and have never short changed us.

Not everyone involved in the arts can be a rock star or headline act. Many artists struggle to make ends meet. Some are on the bread line. Artists are hard working by nature and, in the best sense of the word, proud of what they do. In today's climate, many find making a living difficult. Some do not have a pay day from one end of the year to the next. For example, someone might work on a body of work for an exhibition for a year or two in the hope there will be some sales. In the case of sculptors I have met, it could be three years from the time they receive a commission to the time they get paid.

Perhaps the Minister will ask the Cabinet to address an anomaly, namely, the special status of the artist in terms of revenue and taxation affairs. It is not fair that an artist who receives a pay cheque once every two or three years has that money viewed as a single year's income, given the heavy tax and PRSI penalties imposed. The artists to whom I refer do not live in ivory towers. They must feed their families, send their children to school and pay their bills. It would be a relief and helpful were the Minister to intervene and resolve these unjust traps, perhaps inadvertently imposed by Revenue.

The way in which Revenue's rules apply to artistic capital projects is unsound and nonsensical. Laoighis-Offaly is fortunate to have fantastic facilities such as the Dunamaise Arts Centre, the Birr Theatre and Arts Centre and the Arthouse in Stradbally. With the local authorities, the Department and the Arts Council played leading roles in providing these. Tullamore is in the throes of a large effort to raise €250,000 in the community, no mean feat in the current climate, to build a new arts centre. I pay tribute to those behind the project on its outstanding design, technical specifications and superb location on the banks of the Grand Canal. The catch-22 is that, while the community is making great strides to fund-raise and match the Government's contribution, the VAT charged on the building of this capital project could be as high as €400,000, which would negate the community's contribution and could sink the project. That would be counterproductive and in no one's interests. In light of this anomaly, will the Minister intervene with Revenue? It would be futile for the Government, the Arts Council, local authorities and community to fund-raise and put resources into building a necessary arts centre only to have Revenue claw back the money.

I pay tribute to the constant contribution made to Ireland's cultural landscape by the Arts Council, particularly under the dynamic leadership of its chairperson, Ms Pat Moylan. Her hands on expertise and experience in the sector are immense. I urge the Minister to use his good offices - he does not interfere with council policy - to ask the Arts Council to re-examine some of its funding application processes, which can be unnecessarily convoluted and complex. Red tape is a burden wherever it is found and can be a significant and unnecessary deterrent to artists and small community groups.

I commend the Minister on the vigour and enthusiasm he has brought to his portfolio. I understand he wants to formulate a coherent arts and culture strategy for the country, which is to be commended. However, I caution him that it would be dangerous and counterproductive to impose a single template on the whole of the country. For example, counties Galway, Clare and Kerry do not have the same needs and priorities as counties Laois, Offaly and Longford. As far back as 1988, County Laois showed great initiative by appointing one of the country's first arts officers. Laois is an example of a county that is trying to build and nurture its arts infrastructure, although it is not at as advanced a stage as counties Kerry, Galway and others. Will the Minister take this into account? In terms of arts policy and strategy, one size does not necessarily fit all.