Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----in making a symbolic, vacuous statement, yet I am here, on behalf of the arts community, trying to see if there is any good news story in the increase of €4 million in funding for the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht. It might sound churlish but I cannot welcome this €4 million increase as an indication of the Government's support for the arts. In fact, this €4 million is going to fund the woolly idea that is called the commemoration. We are less than 18 months away from 2016 and we have no idea what the Government is doing regarding the commemoration. We know that the Government, particularly both parties-----