Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

While I might sound like a broken record, the editorial in today's edition of The Irish Times contained the following quote: "When the name of Ireland is mentioned, people right across the world think first of our writers, our musicians, our drama?In Government, Fine Gael will nurture and support our culture". I ask the Leader for a debate on the Government's culture policy. The merger of the boards of the National Library of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland has yielded a mere ¤1 million in savings. We would be wasting Oireachtas time in debating many amendments to the Bill to abolish these. The one board for the National Library of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland will comprise nine people. It will not actually be a board but an advisory council within the Department. I do not question the need for cuts and I accept we need to cut our cloth. I am concerned there is an ill-considered approach towards a cultural policy. Should the Department now be called the Department of culture rather than the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht since it is now taking more control of some of our national cultural institutions?

Yesterday Senator Hayden mentioned the long list of Irish writers who have been shortlisted for the IMPAC literary award. There is an inconsistency with regard to the support for artists and the support for our cultural heritage and the overall slash and burn policy the Government is pursuing. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate as soon as possible on the Government's approach to culture and its cultural policy.