Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am a former chairman of the Garter Lane Arts Centre and many other bodies in my native city. As someone who has been involved in the arts all my life, I welcome the Minister and compliment her on an excellent contribution. It is normal practice in the House that when the Opposition tables a motion during Private Members' business, the Government tables an amendment. This evening, in a spirit of harmony, conciliation and respect for the arts, the Government decided not to oppose the motion, believing Fianna Fáil genuinely wanted to support the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht before the budget is announced next week. Alas, we should have known better. Fianna Fáil is playing politics with the motion, as it has played with the arts all of its life. I go back no further than the interregnum after the previous Government had been kicked out by the people at the last election. I will stick to the arts. In the month before the new Government took office, it appointed 18 people to arts bodies and boards. Were the positions advertised? No; not one position was advertised and I am only speaking about the 18 appointments made in the one month period after it had been kicked out of office. I will not go back as far as the two or three other Fianna Fáil Ministers who appointed many political friends, councillors, former Deputies, wives of current Senators on the other side of the House and party activists to boards.