Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire, agus tréaslaím leis na Seanadóirí neamhspleácha as an rún seo a chur os ár gcomhair. Cabhraíonn sé i gcónaí a leithéid de rún a phlé mar tugann sé seans dúinn uilig ár dtuairimí agus ár dtaithí a gcur ar fáil eadrainn féin. Is é mo thuairim go bhfuil gach duine ins an Teach seo taobhach agus cabhrach le haon rud a bhaineann leis an gcultúr agus leis na healaíona. Is mar sin ar chóir é a bheith.

I welcome the Minister who has always been available to us when issues relating to his portfolio arise. We have had him in the House to discuss the decade of commemorations and the arts. I found this helpful because sometimes we all tend to work in isolation. The Seanad is the ideal forum in which to have a discussion such as this. We should look at the broader picture as we see the arts and culture today. We all accept that they are important to the quality of life and the morale of the people, as well as to the image of the country abroad. All of us are aware of how we have delivered in that regard. The status we have as a small country internationally is amazing. The arts and culture have been central to it.

I have seen the Minister travel the length and breadth of the country to attend all kinds of events – small, big and international. He has always had a ready ear to listen to anyone with a point of view. That is consultation with the grassroots. I have seen this being delivered on organically and subsequently evolve into policy. I hope that will never change because if that consultation with activists in a cultural and artistic sense does not continue, we will have lost an important conduit in terms of the overall policy that will eventually be developed.

I am pleased the Minister has acknowledged the importance and excellence of the national cultural institutions because there is no doubt that they are one of the main conduits for the image of the country abroad, but they also give a certain motivation to the people. I refer, for example, to schoolchildren visiting one of the institutions, academics and other participants. It it important that there be such a forum and focus.

I hope we will not have an acrimonious debate. I hope that it does not harm the unity and cohesion that has existed in the arts and cultural world to date. We each have an opportunity to engage on this issue and I hope that we can get back onto even ground. We are all Irish and committed to our cultural and artistic identity. Any contribution that we make in this debate should have that intention.

I compliment the two Senators who have spoken. Senator Mac Conghail stated that he had always found the Minister and his officials to be professional and helpful, which has also been my experience through the years. Speaking as Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on the arts, it must come as something of a surprise that I am praising the Minister or his Department, but some issues are above politics. This happens to be one of them. It is above party considerations.

The national cultural institutions should not feel aggrieved in any way, as it would be wrong not to acknowledge them for their work. We have been particularly lucky in the calibre of personnel that we have succeeded in attracting, Senator Mac Conghail being an example. His vigour and vision have made a major contribution to the Abbey Theatre. For this, I salute him. The theatre grew out of the same renaissance as our Independence and our individuality as a people.

We are facing economic challenges. If any public figure does not start by acknowledging these, it will create a difficulty and send us down a cul-de-sac. Each Department is facing identical challenges. I made this point when the Fianna Fáil Party was in power. It is easy to make arguments knowing full well that the resources are not available to respond 100%. When the Minister sits down at the table, I hope that he will have listened to my comments.

Given the motion's origins and the experience behind it, this is probably one of the Chamber's best debates. The Minister has the vigour to make the strongest argument possible on behalf of arts and culture. Had this debate been held 30 years ago, the man or woman on the street might not have been on our side. I do not mean this in a derogatory sense. Interestingly, they are on side with what we are trying to achieve now.

It should not be argued that arts and culture do not put bread on the table. The opposite is the truth, as their economic value is beyond question. Senator Mac Conghail referenced his background. Three all-Ireland fleadh cheoils in Cavan will have delivered €120 million to the region by their end, the VAT derived from which will be approximately €30 million.

Arts and culture are the essence of the Irish as a people. Is it not funny that we fall back on them in challenging times? Good hurling, football and soccer teams lift our spirits. These are the people who will help us to rise each time we have a problem. When one visits the museum to study our history, the Abbey Theatre to watch a play or the fleadh cheoil to play music, one is seeing what we are as a people. This is important. The Minister should put these arguments to the Minister for Finance or whomever is making the decisions. I hope that today's debate will not be concerned with vested interests or what we are seeking individually, but with everyone working together towards a common goal. Ní neart go cur le chéile. The strength we can have by being united is exactly what the Minister needs and nothing that might detract from it will help us, as financial decision makers could perceive divisions. We are depending on the Minister to pick up the ball, run and score. He needs all of the support we can give. That these arguments are coming from Fianna Fáil may be surprising, but I dearly love everything that we do from an artistic and cultural point of view.

Each of us has had the opportunity to visit China or Japan, countries of 1.3 billion and 100 million people, respectively. Given the fact that we are a young and small nation, we are always overawed when the Japanese or Chinese people whom we ask about Ireland generally refer to our arts and culture.

There is a time for closing ranks, unity and positive focus. I am not against debate or differing opinions, but confrontation spills out and might distract us from our common cause. I would love it if there was no amendment to this motion and if we could agree a single motion that the Minister would convey to the decision makers.