Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I am glad we have the opportunity to discuss the Bill. The Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, of which I am fortunate to be a member, and the pre-legislative debate gave us an opportunity to understand precisely how the Bill would help the National Concert Hall. We had a number of public hearings which allowed us to meet and discuss with a number of stakeholders the reason the Bill was necessary. The chair of the National Concert Hall appeared before the committee and spoke about balancing the public interest of the National Concert Hall with the commercial challenges. He provided figures to the committee for 2013 which showed that more than €4 million was generated by the National Concert Hall and about €2 million came from State funds. That is about two to one, which seems to be a good balance. It has had a very good track record since its establishment in Earlsfort Terrace in 1981, having been in operation for more than three decades. That it can run up to a thousand events each year is a considerable achievement, and it has more than 300,000 visitors coming through its doors. It is clear that its programme caters for a broad range of tastes, which is precisely as it should be. It gives up-and-coming artists and groups the opportunity to perform in such a prestigious venue. There is no doubt that having that on a CV and as an experience is certainly a boost as one develops one's own cultural work.

The Minister has outlined well the importance of culture in the life of society and the life of the nation. The actual amount generated by the National Concert Hall for the economy is almost €38 million annually, if I have calculated correctly. That is a huge contribution to the community and the immediate environment. It is important to try to help those artists who have yet to make their way in the world of art or the world of entertainment by keeping the rates low, because it is an ideal opportunity for them, particularly since the National Concert Hall will be a statutory body and in law will have the same recognition as all the other cultural institutions. It is State-funded to the extent of a third of what it costs to run, based on 2013 figures. It made the point that it sees itself as a leader on behalf of other less well resourced cultural bodies. Often, it sets the tone and the standard and creates the profile and the publicity. Its role is even greater than what it actually puts on stage, and it can be seen as an advocate for culture and the arts in general. That it will be a statutory body will add to its standing.

The Bill is important in terms of negotiating with other people in the area of fund raising, and it brings with it a mandate. All of that is exceptionally important, and I am sure the fingerprint of the National Concert Hall is on the Bill. I do not think there should be that great division when a certain amount of evolution is taking place in the arts or culture. In this particular case, we all work together. On the other hand, the independence issue is important also. The Bill does not in any way harm that independence; in fact, it is the opposite. Given that it will be a company, it would be wrong for all kinds of reasons if it did not have to report back to the Minister and, through the Minister, back to the Oireachtas. First, it is working in our name, and second, it has a standing in law and, above all, because of the funding provided by the State. Far more important, however, is the fact that we should always show an interest in the operation of the cultural institutions. We should not just say they are out there. That is why I am pleased that we are having a debate on culture and the arts. We have had good debates in the past. In that context, we should feel free not to be seen in any way as being hypocritical against anybody or against the National Concert Hall, but we should have a sense of partnership and motivation which should form part of the relationship between us.

On the broader issue, which is not for the main debate, of the many cuts the Minister has inherited - and we would wish it were otherwise - there is no doubt that budget cuts of 30% or 40% over a four- or five-year period cause damage. It is not just a matter of cutting salaries or not engaging people when a vacancy arises. It is none of that. The whole morale suffers and becomes threatened. I ask the Minister to ensure that as momentum gathers and there is new growth in the economy the arts is not way down the priority list. I suggest that arts and the economy should run parallel.This is because at the end of the day the public relations, tourism and morale aspects of culture and arts in the life of the nation are so great that we cannot put a financial value on it. I trust the Minister will make the case for culture and the arts, not only in respect of the Arts Council but for all the bodies at local, regional and national level. Many bodies have an international remit as well. We never want to see them having to do something to the point whereby they come across as impoverished. When people travel abroad, whether to China or Japan or wherever, they can see the venues and funding at the disposal of those countries. I am not saying we can compete with all that, but it is important when we have something that is good, intrinsic, rich unique and exclusive to ourselves. It is like with a gift in that we need to be able to parcel it properly. Funding is always needed.

I attended the Wexford opera festival last Sunday night and the number of volunteer helpers at the front of house was most impressive. In the case of The Helix in Dublin, those responsible insisted there would be volunteers at the front from day one. The importance is not only in the savings but also in that a volunteer can have a very passionate feeling for something and are able to transmit that feeling when talking to a patron. They go out of their way to meet patrons. Volunteerism must be acknowledged and recognised.

Above all else, it is important we ensure we embrace the arts through education at all stages. As we know, there is a charter for arts in education. I hope that too will be as it should be in future.

I compliment the Minister and the Department on bringing the Bill before the House. It is the right step at the right time. We need more of this type of development.