Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

235. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will support and implement the proposal adopted by motion of the General Assembly of Aosdána to establish an Annual Day to Celebrate Freedom of Expression in Solidarity with Embattled and Imprisoned Artists throughout the World. [22807/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Aosdána was established by State in 1981 and is an autonomous affiliation of artists. I commend the work Aosdána does in honouring artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the creative arts in Ireland, and assisting members in devoting their energies fully to their art practice. I also support their recognition of the need to highlight the plight of artists persecuted for their work across the world. Freedom of expression and, in this case, artistic expression is a vital part of an open democratic society.

I have no powers to make the proposed designation of an annual day. I should point out, however that Ireland is a signatory to, and participant in the structures of, the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions which is based on the principal of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this context, the Convention asserts that cultural diversity can be protected and promoted only if human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, information and communication, as well as the ability of individuals to choose cultural expressions, are guaranteed.