Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

Senator Mac Conghail emphasised the aspect of education. Engagement between the Department and the Department of Education and Skills has taken place and will continue. At present, two high-ranking officials, assistant secretaries in each Department, who have worked with each other in the past, are engaging with each other. The engagement started with my adviser and the advisers of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, getting together. Then, the two Ministers got together and we had very positive engagement. Now, two high-ranking officials are working together.

We are serious about what we can contribute to the arts. It may be impossible to implement all of the Points of Alignment report but parts of it are implementable. It has been put aside for three years, perhaps for good reasons such as the resources not being available; I do not know whether the commitment was there. Certainly, the commitment exists now on the part of both Ministers to ensure not only the implementation of Points of Alignment but also to work on other aspects of arts policy that can be put in place with good will, support and a small amount of resources which would yield a considerable outcome.