Vol. 488 No. 5
12 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the role and function of the proposed national cultural institutions council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6434/98]
In my policy position paper, Caring for our National Heritage, published when I was in Opposition, I signalled my intention to look at the possibility of establishing a national cultural institutions council which would act as a forum for discussion of the needs of the cultural institutions and as a forum for direct contact and discussion with me, with the Heritage Council and the Arts Council.
The Deputy will be aware that a commitment to establish a national cultural institutions council is contained in the Government's programme, An Action Programme for the Millennium. In order that the proposed council should not be merely a talking shop but should be of use and benefit to the participants on the council, I intend to arrange, at an early date, a seminar involving the directors of the institutions concerned to hear their views on the proposal and on the most appropriate organisational model that might be adopted and the precise terms of reference that might apply to the operation of the council.
Will the Minister indicate where such a proposal fits in relation to the cultural institutions Act? Will she indicate what will be the purpose of the council? Does she envisage it being advisory in relation to the allocation of finances, being a budgetary advisory committee or having a statutory function beyond advice?
The idea of having a council for our national institutions is to have a forum for further co-operation. We know of their tremendous expertise and experience and it is a question of being able to pool that in a co-ordinated way. It may be assumed that membership will be drawn from the cultural institutions under the aegis of my Department. I hope to make a public announcement soon with regard to the setting up of a council, but prior to doing that I want to consult the institutions involved. The Deputy asked me about the type of model envisaged. That and the council's terms of reference are questions that will be discussed with those involved. I envisage the council will be up and running before the end of this year.
I wish to ask the Minister if the people invited to this seminar are clients of her Department or the people mentioned in the legislation. I would be satisfied if she would communicate that information to me.
