Paul McGrath
Question:27 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the practical efforts, if any, he is making to promote foreign investment in artistic and cultural developments in this country. [17789/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Investment in Artistic-Cultural Developments.
I welcome foreign investment in artistic and cultural developments in this country. In general I believe that the promoters of individual developments are best placed to secure such investment.
The national cultural institutions welcome support which is in keeping with their aims and objectives, through donations and sponsorship including from foreign sources.
It is important that our institutions should receive wide recognition abroad and any support which is received gives witness to the standing in which they are held besides the obvious tangible assistance which is granted.
It is fair to say that since taking over responsibility for the national cultural institutions, the increased funding which I have secured in this area will have the long-term effect of enhancing the status and services of our institutions even further so that they will be able to attract prestigious contributions from abroad. In this regard, I understand that both the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery in particular have been successful in attracting such interest in recent years and they will continue to seek and achieve such benefits.
The Deputy should also be aware that the range of incentives which I have put in place to promote the Irish film industry — which deals with an important art discipline in its own right — has succeeded in attracting significant foreign investments to this country. If the total production funding for film and television in the 1994-95 tax year, it is estimated that some £67 million was sourced from abroad out of a total of £113 million. This represents 60 per cent of foreign investment in film and television for the period quoted.
Earlier this year, I set up FORTE, the music task force to examine the scale and structures of the music industry in Ireland to identify any factors that may be inhibiting the industry's further development and identify measures that could accelerate the industry's expansion.
The final report of this task force is due before the end of the year in which I expect that the matter of foreign investment in the music industry will be addressed.
I look forward to the final report of FORTE. Will the Minister acknowledge that the arts plan states that the Arts Council will co-operate with Forbairt, An Bord Tráchtála and Bord Fáilte in an increased effort to market Irish art abroad and to use their marketing expertise to attract investment in art? What progress is being made in that respect? Is the Minister in a position to indicate whether any targets have been set and, if so, whether they are being met?
I appreciate the Deputy's interest in this matter, in the integration between projects like music and art in their own right as cultural spheres and the immense employment potential and economic significance of the cultural industries that are derived from these sources. The answer to the Deputy's question is "yes"; there have been talks between my officials and the different agencies she specified. I look forward to receiving the report of the task force — I am told I will have it before the end of next month — which will have examined every aspect, including those mentioned by the Deputy, in addition to the marketing, production, technical and creative aspects. We have not waited for the detailed proposals because the different necessary connections between the various agencies referred to by the Deputy already have been progressed.
I want to ask two further brief supplementaries. Members have a certain difficulty in that if we want to ask questions about any progress the Arts Council is making we are told by the Minister that is not a matter for the House because of the distance he wishes to maintain — quite rightly — between himself and the council. That presents a difficulty for Members who, during debates on Estimates, vote money for the Arts Council but we are then precluded from asking detailed questions on progress in any given year. Will the Minister examine the possibility of allowing Members access to the kind of information that would enable them to assess whether progress is being made on these important issues? Also, when the FORTE report becomes available, does the Minister envisage moving towards new legislation in relation to the Copyright Act, for example?
On the first question, I acknowledge the Deputy's appreciation of my statutory distance from the Arts Council. That is necessary because if it did not exist there would be a direct relationship for individual projects which would seriously erode the autonomy of the Arts Council as specified in its founding legislation. I take the Deputy's point, however, in relation to being interested in progress and I will try to ensure that such information, as appropriate, will be made available as easily as possible. I do not have any difficulty in that regard.
On the Deputy's second question, which is interesting, I said that FORTE was established to examine any obstacles that may exist to the development of the music industry in addition to examining instruments that might be developed. I await the report but I envisage that non-statutory measures may be taken in relation to, for example, developing the area of music publishing. The Deputy is correct in saying that legislation might be required and, if so, I will move immediately to put that into preparation.
I note with interest that the Minister said there is a need for distance between the Arts Council and the Minister. That kind of autonomy is necessary, but it is the Minister who decides on the moneys for the Arts Council without which it cannot continue to do its work. There is a shortfall of at least £3 million for 1995 alone, and we cannot say this will be forthcoming later in the year because it is now nearly December. Will the Minister comment on this very serious situation?
I am entirely guided by the Chair, but I did think there was another question dealing with that. However, I have no difficulty in replying to the Deputy. The position is indeed as the Deputy said. I did say in a previous debate that I am responsible for the overall funding of the Arts Council, among other institutions. Funding has risen from just over £10 million to £16.25 million in the present year, and the arts plan envisages a sum that is even higher — a figure of over £19 million. I am still in discussions with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, regarding the provision of adequate funding. There are three things about the arts plan that are important. It was prepared in consultation and in partnership; it is constructed around seven modules over a three-year period; and it has specified levels of funding. In order to be totally forthcoming to the House, let me say also that if the funding is not available to meet the targets, the plan will have to be constructed over a different time period.
Is the Minister suggesting that there has to be a review of the time for the arts plan to be implemented?
I certainly am not. I am in discussions with the Minister for Finance.
Are they cordial discussions?
They are the usual hand-to-hand combat that takes place at this time of the year.
We are still £3 million short for 1995. The Minister would have to concede that.
I am trying to restrain myself from suggesting to the Deputy that the Opposition should make up its mind about curtailing expenditure on the one hand and urging me to spend more on the other.
This is the Minister's promise, not ours.
This was the subject of a priority question just a month ago when I asked about the shortfall of £3 million for the arts plan for 1995. At that time the Minister assured me that he was entering into discusions with his colleague, the Minister for Finance. I had not planned to revisit that question, but since the Minister is so forthcoming, let me ask him if he is optimistic as to the outcome of his discussions in the last month. Can he indicate to the House that the shortfall in 1995 will be made good in 1996 and that the amount already promised in the arts plan for 1996 will be allocated in full? Will the Minister also accept that although in the context of 1995 there was a 22 per cent increase in funding——
We have strayed, and continue to stray, from the substance of this question, which relates to the promotion of foreign investments.
I was not the original stray sheep on this occasion.
I would like to return to the subject before us.
Is the Minister optimistic that funding for the arts plan will be available in the three-year time span so that the arts plan can meet its overall objectives in the time set out in the plan which is 1995-97?
I am speaking from recollection but I believe I am correct in saying that when the Deputy last raised this the plan had not been accepted by Government.
Yes, it had.
It had been adopted. There were three stages — the publication of the plan which was a Government decision, the adoption of the plan which was also a Government decision, and the funding of the plan. I am in discussions. The important aspect is that the plan is the framework for action. It has its seven modules which are important to a coherent development of arts activity. If I am successful to the point at which I can secure money according to the scale envisaged in the arts plan, that would be the desirable outcome. If this is not possible for any reason, however, it would mean that the modules as described in the plan would stay intact but could not be delivered in the same timeframe. This is the point I made to my colleagues in the Department of Finance. As to whether one allows oneself feelings of optimism and pessimism, I do not allow myself feelings of that kind any more.
That is appalling. Does Government really dull the senses that much?
I meant higher passions of rage and anger.