Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Never has the state of our national cultural institutions been so fragile and uncertain with regard to governance and funding. We heard a couple of days ago that the National Museum of Ireland has had to close galleries. There is extraordinary uncertainty.

The articles and memorandum of association of the Irish Museum of Modern Art state that 15 members can be appointed to the board. I understand – I am saying this under privilege here today – that a letter was written to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art to cap its membership at nine. This means that when former councillor Jane Dillon Byrne was appointed by the Labour Party to be the ninth member of the board this summer, there should have been no more appointments.

The articles and memorandum of association refer to a membership of 15. The appointments of last week bring the number to 11. We need clarity. Are there rules? Are they being changed? If the articles and memorandum of the museum state there are to be 15 members of the board, there are four additional vacancies. However, according to a Government decision, the number of members has been exceeded. Therefore, clear issues arise over transparency, accountability and confidence.

My question is whether the chairman of the IMMA was consulted about the skill set. The arts world is being crucified in terms of public funding. We are being told to raise money internationally and that philanthropy is the key, yet I assume the board of IMMA had philanthropic members ready to be appointed. I want to know whether the Minister, or a previous Minister, engaged with the current chairman of IMMA to determine the skill set required by members of the board. It is something I am worried about. Next Tuesday, an Oireachtas committee will engage in pre-legislative scrutiny of the National Concert Hall Bill. Elements of that Bill are to do with centralised control by the Minister and the Government on artistic matters.