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

-----and there are efforts to reach out involving the National Concert Hall and proposals to make connections in New York. There is certainly significant potential and our national cultural institutions will have to reach out to realise it.

In an era of diminished State funding capacity, it would simply not be right of me to ignore the examination of existing structures to see whether they are suited to the realities of 21st century arts and cultural funding. Where institutions are funded virtually 100% by the taxpayer, the Government has a responsibility to subject them to periodic review.

Much of the commentary in this House and outside has focused on the curatorial and programming independence of the institutions. There is no question of their being undermined. More commentary suggests that I have not consulted relevant parties. I have addressed this already. There has been ongoing contact and engagement with the cultural institutions since the Government published its public service reform plan last November. That contact is continuing. I met the chairmen of all the national cultural institutions, along with the Arts Council and Culture Ireland, to discuss these issues and hear their views.

Some have said I am against open, competitive recruitment processes for directors of the institutions. I want to nail this on the head. Since I came to office, we have recruited new directors at the National Concert Hall, the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Arts Council, all through open competitions managed by the Public Appointments Service. We are in discussions with the service on the appointment of the next director of the National Museum of Ireland. Never before have so many directors been appointed in the same year. We have managed to recruit some top-class young people with international experience who will make a major contribution to the national cultural institutions.

I give recognition to those who have retired. Senator David Norris mentioned Dr. Wallace who retired; he did not resign.

I ask those who criticise to look at my record in this matter and draw their own conclusions. I do not accept that examining the possibilities amounts to an attack on the cultural infrastructure of the nation, as some have suggested. In fact, the idea that any organisation or institution should be, or consider itself to be, above examination for reform is unhealthy and a recipe for a bad deal for the taxpayer. These institutions are the cultural heartbeat of the nation, the stewards which care for a resource which is literally priceless. I want to ensure they work in the most effective and efficient way possible and that they can cope with the challenges they will face. It is my intention that following this process our national cultural institutions will emerge stronger and have a more certain future in order that for coming generations they can continue to preserve our past and inform our future.

Senator Fiach Mac Conghail made a point about Culture Ireland. A new director has been appointed; the board has made and announced the appointment.

Reference was made to Mr. Eugene Downes by Senator David Norris.