6 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the terms of reference in the contract of employment of his artistic adviser; if he will define the relationship between his adviser and the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My artistic adviser is employed to advise on matters relating to arts and culture and to assist in the preparation of speeches and publications. This involves contact and liaison with relevant cultural bodies, such as the Arts Council, as the need arises.
In respect of the relations between the Taoiseach's art adviser and the Arts Council, was the Taoiseach aware that his artistic adviser conveyed his displeasure at the continued promotion of this book, in which the Taoiseach emerges very creditably?
I would be grateful if you would not display the object.
Will he further state if, in conveying his concern at the continued promotion of this book, of which 1,500 copies were printed, Mr. Cronin, the artistic adviser, was acting with the knowledge and agreement of the Taoiseach?
The Ceann Comhairle has already ruled this matter out of order but Deputy Quinn is very cleverly coming around it in his own way. I am not too clear how far I am expected to go on this.
Try all the way.
I knew nothing about this matter and I believe the Deputy will accept that. In regard to a letter which my artistic adviser wrote to the Arts council — I think that is what Deputy Quinn is referring to——
No, it is not.
——I think he will know that that letter contained the following sentence: "It is not my purpose in writing this letter to perpetuate controversy nor am I asking for any specific action by the council. I write as a matter of record and I do so I may add in a private capacity".
What notepaper was that written on?
I am grateful for the Taoiseach's reply and I am assured he was not aware of the transactions which took place in the Arts Council. Is the Taoiseach not now aware that as a result of somebody acting in his name, perhaps without his knowledge, 200 copies of this book were shredded because they did not cast a favourable light on the artistic adviser, and not on the Taoiseach? Is he not therefore concerned that policy is conveyed by way of intimidation between Merrion Street and Merrion Square?
The Deputy should be fair about this. There is absolutely no question of anything in the nature of intimidation. I doubt if in the history of the Arts Council have relations between the Arts Council and the Government ever been better. I am sure the Arts Council will acknowledge that fact. I am sure I can assure the Deputy and the House that the artistic adviser was not aware of the decision to shred this book. That is not for me to say but I think I can give the Deputy that assurance.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he agrees that when a transaction of conversations takes place between his artistic adviser and the Director of the Arts Council which ultimately leads to the shredding fo 200 books and the resignation in protest at that act of vandalism by one of the officers of the Arts Council that something is seriously wrong and that he has an obligation to investigate the exchanges which took place?
I have no obligation to investigate. I have been very scrupulous in giving this Arts Council total independence. Deputies know that I have reiterated that principle time and again in this House when I have been under pressure to do this, that or the other in the arts area. I have indicated that I have left all these matters entirely to the Arts Council and I am quite certain they would acknowledge that that is the position. I do not think there is anything on my part to be investigated. I can also assure the Deputy that relationships between my artistic adviser and the Director of the Arts Council are excellent. I have seen this at first hand on occasions. There is absolutely no animosity or anything of that kind at any level between my office and the Arts Council. I feel very aggrieved at this matter because it is one thing in which I have taken particular pride. I believe I appointed a first class Arts Council who are doing a magnificent job. The relationship between that Arts Council and my Department at every level is excellent. I am deeply distressed that there should be any hint of anything of this kind, particularly in one newspaper.
Is the Taoiseach distressed by the shredding of this book?
Yes, I certainly am.
That is good to hear.
In respect of an earlier answer by the Taoiseach which may have been inadvertent, would the Taoiseach not agree that it has been a long standing tradition in this House that Ministers, including the Taoiseach, are answerable for the activities of their servants and do not seek to reduce any answerability in that regard by any claim of lack of personal knowledge? Would the Taoiseach agree that the Ministers and Secretaries Act is framed on the basis that Ministers are responsible to this House for actions taken regardless of their personal knowledge?
I have given Deputy Quinn the information he requested. I have pointed out that a particular letter written by my artistic adviser was written with the specific proviso that it was written in a private capacity. I really think this is making a mountain out of a molehill in so far as my Department are concerned. I do not attribute any particular motives to anybody in regard to the shredding of the book but I maintain very adamantly in the House that they are an excellent Arts Council, they are doing a magnificent job and their relationship with my Department is excellent. I have always been at great pains in this House and elsewhere to maintain the absolute independence and integrity fo the Arts Council in their work.
Question No. 7.
May I——
I want to make progress on other questions.
I want to ask a final supplementary. Would the Taoiseach not agree that this action which apparently was taken voluntarily by the Arts Council on foot of this letter is indicative of a very bad atmosphere in Government in the sense that people feel afraid when letters emanate in the way that this one did?
Rubbish.
We are having an extension of the question now.
I did not hear the last remark.
I will repeat the whole question.
Repetition is a luxury we cannot afford at Question Time.
We have heard enough.
I am not responsible for any auditory incapacity the Taoiseach may have. Would the Taoiseach not agree that this action which perhaps was taken on foot of this letter or perhaps not as indicative of an atmosphere in which people are somewhat afraid of letters emanating from the Taoseach's office perhaps on Office of the Taoiseach notepaper and that that atmosphere is not a desirable one?
That is a total misrepresentation of the position. There is no such atmosphere. I want to reiterate that to my knowledge the relationships between my Department and the Arts Council at all levels are excellent. There is the fullest possible co-operation and my Department at all levels fully respect the independence of the Arts Council in everything they do. I go further and say that the relationships between the artistic adviser in my Department and the Director of the Arts Council are excellent both at an official and personal level. There is no question of any unhappy atmosphere prevailing.
Question No. 7.
May I——
We have dwelt pretty long on this question.
I have a very brief supplementary.
Thank you.
Can the Taoiseach, as the Minister responsible for the arts, offer an explanation as to why this book was shredded?
Here the Deputy goes again, as it were.
I am asking for an opinion.
The Arts Council are independent and I have reiterated their independence time and again here.
I was asking for an opinion.
The Deputy is now asking me to account for something the Arts Council do.
Bonfire of the Vanities.
Question No. 7 is to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. May I say, as is my wont, that these questions are nominated for priority. I appeal for co-operation so that we may ensure that the five questions are disposed of within the prescribed time.
