Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to be on the committee on the 2016 celebrations which is chaired by the Minister. What can we do in the arts area in the run up to the 2016 celebrations? I am aware of proposals such as the freedom trail. The Minister is spearheading a task force that will go around the country. Can he outline to the House what will be done? Also, we have some cultural ambassadors, the most famous of whom is probably Gabriel Byrne. Does the Minister propose to appoint more ambassadors?

While it is not in the Minister's remit, I was delighted to see yesterday that the mother of a New York fireman who died in the September 11 attacks received the first certificate of Irish heritage, an initiative the Minister has been most helpful in ensuring is successful. Will the Minister explain to the House his vision and how this certificate could help the arts, the IDA, Tourism Ireland and the other institutions and colleges to assist our recovery in the near future?