Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It was a very good place at the time. There was a tremendous urgency about it, like when Dublin City University became a university in the late 1980s. We had a great outreach programme, which other cultural institutes might look to. We were the first board to get the National Symphony Orchestra to get into buses, trains and cars and go to places such as Sligo, Mayo and Galway. It is not easy to move a symphony orchestra, but we did it, and the orchestra brought its great music all over Ireland.

Thomas Moore said:

Music, oh, how faint, how weak,

Language fades before thy spell!

The only time when my savage breast, or beast in me, is soothed is through music. We could talk artistically until the cows come home, which is one of the reasons the Bill was an easy jaunt. It does not discuss creativity, imagination, the arts or performance. It discusses governance and structure, and rightly so. Well done to the Minister because without imposing governance, structure and a strategic plan on a statutory body, the artistry will not happen. It is not an artistic Bill. We can talk all the artistry we like. It is a platform for great artistry, entertainment and development from the young musician to the greats and for music for all ages, sizes and ears. It is not exclusive, and this is the great thing about it. It was an easy jaunt through this, and I am delighted about it and welcome it.

I read Brigid McManus's well written and excellent report on the governance structures of the National Concert Hall, which the Bill is about, without taking away the artistic independence or the independence of the CEO or board. I agree with Senator Norris that the board members should be artistically and creatively skilled, imaginative and talented and with a proven record and mix, and should not be political appointees or appointed on the basis of "I knew Dan, who knew Joe". I like the idea very much. It is very important. It is also very important to have board members with backgrounds in accountancy, human resources and commerce, who can see ways forward when things get tough and money is tight. Well done on that.

I agree with Senator Norris about Seanad Members, although people think one is double jobbing and getting all the goodies, and that it is somebody else's time. I am not sure about it. While we have the privilege of being in the Seanad, we can be the conduit for the National Concert Hall and do not necessarily have to sit on the board. I commend the Minister. It is very good, and is an easy jaunt, creating governance and some kind of structure, which obviously fell apart during the past four years not under the watch of this or the previous Minister, but under its own lack of watch in the National Concert Hall.