Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister in the spirit of the House. Brigid McManus, who did the report for the Department, found the governance of the National Concert Hall was very good and she supported it. She is a very senior and distinguished public servant. This is, as Senator Mac Conghail said, a great institution. His committee did the pre-legislative scrutiny.

My own concerns on the Bill were about section 18(9), which states that "the chief executive officer shall not question or express an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government or a Minister of the Government or on the merits of the objectives of such a policy". That is only at the Committee of Public Accounts, but in general our Constitution gives citizens the right to freely express their convictions and opinions.

Interestingly, it goes on to discuss preserving the rightful liberty of expression in the radio, press and cinema, but it has always been so in the older cultural institutions, like musical institutions and the Abbey Theatre, whose director is with us. We should be very relaxed on that.

Perhaps the line "Stick close to your desks and never go to sea, And you all may be rulers of the Queen's Navee!" in "H.M.S. Pinafore" was subversive, but it was satire on how the upper class bypassed any public appointments commission and became major figures in the admiralty. I do not think "H.M.S. Pinafore" should be banned because of those sentiments.

Let us have open, expressive arts as a major contributor to this society, enriching North-South relations and relations between Ireland and the world. It is a major part of how Ireland presents itself to the world. I echo the sentiments of Senator Mac Conghail. I did not know it was the Minister's first Bill, but it is a pretty good place to start and I wish her and the National Concert Hall every success. It is such a valuable institution. Along with the Iveagh Gardens which are behind it, it is a major cultural complex, which has been of inestimable value to the city of Dublin and to this country. Long may it prevail.