Seanad debates

Tuesday, 10 October 2017

3:30 pm

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of the gardaí. We all welcome the 800 extra gardaí. The Senator also made reference to an important issue in his contribution, namely, the inordinate delay experienced by the victims of crime. Those dealing with injuries are having to endure a five-year delay. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House. Senator Colm Burke raises the point that it is unacceptable to see five-year delays.

Senator Warfield made reference to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the issue of the arts. Additional funding has been provided to the Arts Council, the Irish Film Board, Culture Ireland, the national cultural institutions and the Creative children initiative which has captured the public imagination. I am not aware that the Minister is not having a press conference - I am not a party to that - but there has been a strong commitment by the Minister, her Department and the Government to signal the legacy of the 2016 programme which puts creativity at the centre of public policy. I would be happy to have a debate on the arts in the coming weeks.

I note Senator Paddy Burke's contribution on an iar-Thaoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, and the other contributions.

I apologise for straying into the issue of the budget but many of the contributions were on the budget.

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