Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá mé an-sásta go bhfuil muid ag plé le cúrsaí ealaíona arís sa Seanad. Is ábhar é a bhfhuil an-ghean agam féin air agus chaith mé cuid mhaith de mo shaol ag plé leis.

I welcome this debate as it is good that we are discussing the arts again. I am not disappointed that this is the second time we have debated them in two months; rather, I am delighted because the arts are often forgotten, given all of the other issues raised. This is a very important area. Many years ago W. B. Yeats sat in one of these seats and a moment ago I found myself wondering which one. Given the ruaile buaile outside Leinster House earlier, I wondered what type of poetry he would write today. What would he think of today's protests? I was sent a random text earlier containing a quote by him and, apparently, he held journalists in significant disdain. He said: "I hate journalists. There is nothing in them but tittering, jeering emptiness... The shallowest people on the ridge of the Earth." It is obvious that even in those days Senators had interesting relationships with representatives of the Fourth Estate.

I welcome the Yeats2015 initiative and commend all involved for their work. Yeats had a strong connection with County Galway in places such as Thoor Ballylee and through his connection with Lady Gregory of Coole Park. I have spoken to local people who are concerned that insufficient time was given for funding applications and that Galway people were overlooked in the funding process. I am not sure that is correct, but it is important that Galway-----