Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he received a report on setting up a new cultural relations commission in June 2004; if this proposal has been approved by the Cabinet; when the new commission will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5172/05]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he intends to establish the new cultural relations commission; if the proposal has been approved by Cabinet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5168/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 33 together.

The Arts Act 2003 assigns responsibility for promoting Irish arts both within and outside the State to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. I have been considering how best to showcase Irish arts internationally building in particular on the strong positive image created by the highly successful cultural programme of last years Irish EU Presidency and the work over many years of the cultural relations committee. To assist me in this work, my Department commissioned external consultancy advice from Mr. Eugene Downes, arts consultant, on the structure and content of an international arts promotion strategy appropriate to our circumstances. We have also engaged in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs on our proposals and I am happy to say that there is broad consensus on them. I am now circulating my proposals to my Cabinet colleagues for their information following which I plan to publish an outline of my proposals in the very near future.