Sean Barrett (Independent)

I have many important matters to raise, but I will try to adhere to the six minutes the Acting Chairman has given me. In the college where I grew up, the two people we most admired were Brendan Kennelly and Brian Boydell. Other people had fancier titles, but those two gentlemen's representation of the arts inspired us all.

Consider the North-South problems we have dealt with in recent times. The arts constitute one of the best ways to achieve such liaisons. Remember Brian Friel, Pat McCabe, Seamus Heaney and Hamilton Harty. As far as the arts are concerned, there are no borders. This is a valuable asset as we try to bind the wounds of many years.

There must be more interest in the arts within the university sector. It has worried me for some time that TCD has no professor of music. Brian Boydell is greatly missed. When I discussed this matter with the outgoing provost, he agreed that we needed a professor of music and that the post should be performance-related. I agree with Senator O'Donnell's suggestion that the next professor of banking who retires should be replaced by a professor of music. It is important that we have the ability to inspire the young.

There will be a short intake of breath from the people behind me in the Gallery but, if budgets are constrained, what can we do within our existing resources? A suggestion from an economist working in this area, Professor Dick Netzer, related to rehearsals. We rehearse for concerts and theatre productions. He suggested that we hold these rehearsals in shopping centres, schools and factories so that those who might not attend an opera could see how it was put together. Children in particular would see that it was not the perfect product they might hear were they to pay €50 to go to the opera. Let us see how the conductor gets things going. These rehearsals would bring the arts out to shopping centres, pubs, schools, offices and factories. We do not know what will inspire young people. It might be they will remember the day that two or three people from an orchestra came to school.

The Aosdána comprises amazing talents and fantastic people. Could it form part of the quid pro quo, no pun intended, for Aosdána members to visit schools? People would be inspired to meet such wonderful artists. This would reach out to the next generation, which tends to be neglected in formal arts budgets, as Senator O'Donnell stated.

Having put my suggestions to the Minister, I compliment him on the enthusiasm and energy he has brought to his post. I also compliment the arts community on how much it has done for our morale and the country in general.