David Norris (Independent)

I am also very happy to welcome the Minister and his officials, whom I recognise, to the House. I have dealt with the Department over many years. This Minister is appropriately placed, and I have known him for a long number of years, as we have shared an interest in various cultural issues. There is naturally a particular Kerry emphasis, which is perfectly appropriate, as my focus is on Dublin and I speak about Joyce or Bram Stoker quite often. The Minister has really helped to put on the map people like George Fitzmaurice and although John B. Keane did not need to be put on the map, the Minister has underlined the fact that he was there. There is also our mutual friend, Mr. Brendan Kennelly. There is goodwill from the Minister, who is in a difficult position. In parlous economic times, human rights and the arts are almost invariably the first two targets, leading to this difficulty.

I recognise that this House sometimes echoed to the voice of Senator W. B. Yeats, one of our greatest poets. The motion is sponsored by Senator Mac Conghail, who has played a significant role in the Abbey Theatre. It is a dreadful and appalling building but he showed real artistic imagination in turning the dreadful gallery around and putting in a fully raked theatre. We are graced tonight by Ms Rosaleen McDonagh, who is a writer, wheelchair user, Traveller and sometime contestant for the university seats here. In one way she is kind of a hated rival but also a very good friend.

It is very important to recognise the practical significance of the arts. During the presidential election I quoted from time to time from a survey which emerged at the time from a Scandinavian university. That indicated the critical impact of community involvement in the arts in terms of mental health and well-being, demonstrating a saving to a country's exchequer because fewer people needed to use mental health resources. The issue should be grounded in the issue of mental health and well-being, and the arts are needed more than ever at this time, when people are depressed generally by unending bad news. Hollywood cinema boomed during the Great Depression and the same is happening today.

I attended a very well orchestrated briefing organised by Senator Mac Conghail and briefing notes from the National Campaign for the Arts were presented. It was fascinating material. Some 57% of the adult population attend the arts, with 1.2 million people regularly engaged in creative artistic activities. Attendances have increased in the theatre by 8% and at exhibitions by 11%. This suggests the activity is not elitist but deeply ingrained in the spirit of the Irish people. The national cultural revival, led by people like Yeats, predated political nationalism and helped create the movement. Cultural nationalism came first and political nationalism was inspired by it.

Some 111,000 participants attended 592 events nationwide as part of the Bealtaine festival. I have mentioned well-being, and research by Professor Semir Zeki, professor of neuroesthetics at University College London, indicates that viewing a work of art creates the same chemical response as love, putting chemicals like dopamine into the brain. It is a very good activity.

What strikes me about the motion and amendment is that there is one area of disagreement. The difficulties are indicated with the resignation of Dr. Patrick Wallace and Professor Diarmuid Ferriter from their respective positions. Those serious events must be taken account of. The first part of the Independent Senators' motion is inarguable and the Minister practically repeats it word for word. The Minister would like to have the work welcomed, praised and cherished. The Senators also note certain facts before the bitter disagreement becomes evident in the final four paragraphs. The motion asks "to publish the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht's response to the Public Service Reform Plan, including the cost-benefit analysis, and projected savings", which would be very helpful.

Amalgamation of the national library and archive was attempted in Canada, so there is a precedent. The Canadians believed it would save money but it cost 50 million Canadian dollars. A cost-benefit analysis would be very important in this respect, as is the arm's length principle. Artists can be difficult people politically, as it is their role. Plato kicked them out of the republic because they were unreliable. He called them liars. Picasso got it right when he stated that art is a lie that reveals the truth. Politicians do not always like the truth being revealed and we must have the arm's length principle so that we are immune from censorship and interference. I do not believe this Minister would do such a thing, but there could be difficulty later.

The motion further asks "to undertake a consultation process", which would be important. I have always found the Minister to be open and helpful but it can be unhelpful to be given the impression that decisions are taken at Cabinet before a consultation process is complete. The retention of independent boards of directors is absolutely necessary. These people are mostly unpaid so there is no cost cutting in getting rid of them. Some are paid, but in Eugene Downes of Culture Ireland, we got a terrific deal. I know the Minister's commitment; why would I not? I am a fellow traveller. Did I not travel down with him in his splendid motor car to Kerry to Féile na Gréine in Tech Amergin? That festival is in difficulties, as the Minister knows, and I know he will do what he can to assist it. We saw at that festival that the spirit of art and féile includes that idea of generosity of spirit. Pauline Bewick, the artist, was there, one of the greatest Irish artists. She has been extremely generous in giving to the community works of art of enormous value.

Even at this stage, there should be some negotiation between representatives of the two sides, just to look at those final four paragraphs. That is all that separates us and they are negotiable. I salute my colleagues among the Independent Taoiseach's nominees for having put this motion forward. They argued it vigorously, as is their right, but they argued it in a way that was not antagonistic and the questions they asked must be answered. This Minister will, I believe, answer them. It is a difficult time but Seanad Éireann would give the Minister the support and backing he knows in his heart he has, and it would be great if we could get a combined resolution. He will have a battle with economics.