Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to the House. Her appointment as Minister for the arts is an inspired choice because she brings a set of unique qualities to the Department which will create an equality within arts. She deserves enormous credit for making herself available for a debate following the motion that was passed today. Furthermore, the debate has brought quite an amount of clarity to this story which has developed from this morning's newspapers. I did not realise, but now I do, that both candidates in question, particularly Mr. McNulty, was and is a member of the cultural development committee in Kilcar. Culture is not all about Dublin; culture is about Ireland. Kilcar has a right to be proud of its culture and has an absolute right to develop its culture the same as any other area whether that is Dublin city, Trinity College or anywhere else. We have a responsibility to respect the citizens of Kilcar who try to emulate and respect their culture the same as anyone else and anywhere else.

As far as I am concerned one of the greatest elements of our culture is the GAA. From what I see here, the said same gentleman is a significant member of the GAA. We have spent the past number of Sundays appreciating what is unique in the world to Ireland, namely, hurling and Gaelic football. I would like to think that sport is part of our culture as well.