Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I was not present for her previous visits, but I served with her on other committees and I congratulate her on her appointment, which I am sure will be highly successful.

The terms of the motion acknowledges the contribution of the arts - literature, music, paintings, Nobel prizes, including by Members of this House such as former Senator Yeats, and so on. Ireland has an immense arts profile which is a huge part of its national prestige. The proliferation of arts is a reason many people visit the country. There is a huge amount to be proud of and I wish the Minister well in her post.

I have some misgivings. We all can think of new things to do in the arts. It is incumbent on us to say what we should stop doing otherwise one gets the financers into trouble. It is an issue of incrementalism, we all add our new thing and nothing that has been established and running for a long time is ever questioned. I question the level of support for the film industry in this country which has been questioned by many economists. Is there a return? I will come up with the good things later but we must say what is not looking good. I worry, looking at the financial reports for the Department, about the budget of €255 million of which €70 million was spent on administration. I see administration as overheads; not the creative element relating to musicians, artists and actors.

I agree with Senator Mac Conghail when he asked us to please stop talking about governance and restructuring. We have the same thing in the university sector. People are fascinated by committees, structures and talking shops. Let us get out and do the real action which is on the stage and in front of audiences. We must divert money away from people who are fascinated by organisation charts and moving people from one place to another because nothing happens except people at the meeting talk to each other. When they get to the end of the year, and end of their public service careers, all they will have done is rearrange committees. We have to be aware of that tendency which is counter productive and corrodes the morale of creative people. I hope that the restructuring of the libraries, galleries and so on will not occupy us unduly.

The policy inherited by the Minister lacks a reference to young people. There are lots of commemorations and events where the average age must be 50 years plus. Why do we not have the actors we support and cherish in schools? Why not have musicians go to schools? Why not have rehearsals for plays and operas in schools? We have to enthuse the next generation. They never see any of these people coming to school. If they did they would be charmed and delighted. I remember my experience in school when actors visited - it was absolutely wonderful. Rehearsals must take place but why have them in a closed theatre? Let us make it part of the Minister's term in charge of this vital and necessary Department. If a lot of the actors from Senator Mac Conghail's neck of the woods, and musicians from the National Concert Hall and RTE, went to schools at lunchtime the pupils and teachers would be enthused by making the arts accessible.

We have built enough arts centres up and down the country. There is no need to build any more. There are enough parish halls and school buildings. Let us concentrate on performance.

The Minister for Finance will still have problems with finances next Tuesday. The Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht can turn a given budget into much more excitement, for young people in particular, and I wish her well in that task. Go raibh maith agat.