Vol. 463 No. 2
2 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of Foreign Affairs concerning the establishment of an arts agency to promote Irish arts abroad. [5919/96]
24 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht when the cultural relations committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs will be reappointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5789/96]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 2 agus 24 le chéile.
The Deputy will be aware that it is the function of the Cultural Relations Committee, which was appointed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to make recommendations to the Tánaiste for expenditure on schemes for the promotion of Ireland's cultural relations abroad. The establishment of a new independent agency to take account of the international dimension of arts development was mooted in The Arts Plan 1995-1997, published by An Chomhairle Ealaíon/the Arts Council, and which was subsequently approved in principle by the Government. The Deputy will also be aware that, at its meeting in January last, an chomhairle decided to redesignate the plan to cover the five-year period 1995-99. While discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs have not taken place to date on the suggestion of the Arts Council, I propose to embark on such discussions as soon as possible.
This issue was highlighted in the arts plan and I am sure we all support it. I urge the Minister to have further discussions with his colleague to establish the arts agency. I am sure he will agree the work of the Irish Literature Exchange, L'Imaginaire Irlandais and the Frankfurt Book Fair is important to the promotion of Irish arts abroad. While the concept is laudable, will the Minister agree the working practices of L'Imaginaire Irlandais have not been satisfactory? Some artists have referred to L'Imaginaire Irlandais as a mess. Will the Minister examine the matter? I am sure he knows that many of the contracts were signed only this week. How many contracts have been signed with artists?
L'Imaginaire Irlandais is a wonderful exhibition of contemporary Irish culture and I am looking forward to attending its official launch in Paris tomorrow. The interest in it in France is so great that 500 people attended the press conference a few weeks' ago. It will be important not only for its six months' duration but also for the enduring links it will establish between Irish artists and cultural institutions in France.
This is a significant achievement on behalf of the commissioner, Doireann Ní Bhriain, and the committees in France and Ireland who put together a programme. As L'Imaginaire is under the joint sponsorship of the President of France and Her Excellency, the President of Ireland, it would be inappropriate for me to interfere with its detail. Because it is the first large-scale exhibition of its kind in France, involving expenditure of £1.5 million, is preparation involved complicated negotiations about venues, artists and participants in France and Ireland. I am satisfied with the arrangements and I am also pleased about the long-term contacts it will secure between institutions.
There are complications regarding the visual arts in that some of the venues are under the control of the mayoralty of Paris or the French Government and others are under the control of individual cities. I am pleased that arrangements so far have been successful.
While the concept of L'Imaginaire Irlandais is laudable, two of the dance companies, Daghdha and Mandance, taking part in the dance element which will open at the Pompidou Centre next Wednesday did not secure contracts until this week. Is the Minister aware that an arrangement for rehearsals by these companies at the Pompidou Centre are a mess? I understand information given by the Irish L'Imaginaire office on the availability of rehearsal time has not proved correct and the dance companies that will arrive in Paris on Tuesday afternoon may not have an opportunity to rehearse. The first performance is on Wednesday night. Many of those involved are frustrated by the level of organisation. Will the Minister guarantee to inquire immediately about the rehearsal arrangements for these two dance companies? I suggest also that he request the file of correspondence between Daghdha and Mandance and the L'Imaginaire office so as to acquaint himself with the practical difficulties being experienced by these companies? The Minister will probably say the day-to-day operation of the companies is not his responsibility but I am aware of his interest in this area and am sure he would wish to see these difficulties ironed out.
Even before I became Minister I was interested in the area of dance. I am familiar with these companies and will see if the difficulties being experienced by them can be alleviated. As in the case of the suggestion by another Deputy that I should be given the role of executive producer in "Divine Rapture", it would be inappropriate for me to organise time for the rehearsals.
I thank the Minister for his commitment to look into the matter. However, I ask him to do so today as these dance companies have to be in Paris on Tuesday and may have no time for rehearsals before Wednesday evening.
As Deputy Molloy is not present, under established practice it is not possible to take Question No. 3. As the time for Priority Questions is exhausted Question No. 5 will be taken in ordinary time.
