Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. It is very important to speak about the arts. I am delighted we are doing so even though we are speaking about them controversially. We rarely get to speak about them here in the House and it is nice to speak about them regardless of what manner.

I will follow with great interest Mr. McNulty's contribution to the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Can I tell Senators when they talk about qualifications, if we were all to look at ourselves in the mirror and asked about our qualifications, even to be in here, some of them would be very questionable. In all walks of life - in the media, politics and education - some people are not in the job because of being qualified but for other reasons. That is the way of the world, it is the way of politics and I accept that situation. I shall leave everyone with that thought.

The Minister has been very fine, concise and open to come in here and give us such a wonderful explanation. I accept her explanation. It might not have been the way I would go about it but I accept what she did and accept his appointment. We will all watch with great interest Mr. McNulty's contribution to the Irish Museum of Modern Art over the next five years - I cannot wait.