Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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735. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht subject to Decision 1622/2006/EC, when he expects Ireland to be in a position to be entitled to host and to be designated as a European Capital of Culture; the process that would be involved within Ireland in order to designate a particular city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37070/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The European Capital of Culture regulation for the period 2020 - 2033 is currently being considered by the European Council and the European Parliament under the Lithuanian Presidency. Considerable progress was made on this matter during the Irish Presidency in the first half of this year.

Once the negotiations of the regulation are completed it will allow the 2020 competition (which includes Ireland) to be advertised.