Vol. 490 No. 6
3 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the way in which she proposes to promote Irish culture abroad; the initiatives, if any, she is taking in this regard in 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10911/98]
The promotion of Irish culture abroad is the function of my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, through the cultural relations committee of his Department. However, a crucial element of such promotion is a strong, vibrant Irish culture and the £26 million secured for the arts plan this year will ensure that we have the artists, both individuals and groups, in a position to establish a reputation overseas. In addition, an allocation of 1.5 million ECUs in European Regional Development Fund funds has been secured to enable my Department to engage in overseas marketing of cultural and heritage attractions.
Surely the Minister with responsibility for culture should be responsible for the promotion of culture internationally? Is the Minister afraid of the Minister for Foreign Affairs? Why has she not presented a memo to Government suggesting that the cultural relations committee should be under the aegis of her Department which deals with culture? She might also explain why culture was dropped from the Department's title and why it is not an aspect of the British-Irish Agreement now that we are promoting the two parts of this island in an all-Ireland context.
The French music group have offices in many parts of the world promoting French music, which is less syllabled than Irish music. What efforts is the Minister making to promote Irish commercial culture? I am talking about Riverdance and the Broadway plays in particular. The Dubliners are currently in Germany and every concert they play attracts an audience with Celtic roots. Is the Minister's Department or the cultural relations committee making any effort to set up Irish stands at these concerts because those who attend them are attracted to Ireland and Irish music?
Is the Minister aware that the multinationals are ripping off Irish artists and songwriters by not paying them for the use of their music? The music heard by millions in the film "Titanic", for example, is of no value to the economy or to the Irish artists who produced it.
The cultural relations committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs has worked well for a number of years, so it is nothing new for it to be under the aegis of that Department. The Deputy made a spurious point in that regard.
Cultural tourism is growing. I have already said that 1.5 million ECUs in European Regional Development Fund funds has been put aside to specifically market cultural tourism. It is important to note that we have a great opportunity to do so. My Department is currently drawing up plans to ensure the proper use of that money in additional marketing of our national monuments, historic properties, national parks, inland waterways and major national cultural institutions. We have wonderful natural and man-made attractions as far as our cultural and recreational interests are concerned. It is a question of being able to combine that work with the responsibilities of the cultural relations committee under the Department of Foreign Affairs.
I am surprised to hear the Deputy's claim that the arts are not part of the British Irish Agreement. Anyone who read the Agreement or knows anything about what was discussed recognises that there is tremendous——
An teanga.
I know the Deputy is used to blustering but if he listens to my answer, I will do my best to refer to the importance of this Agreement. Everyone has correctly highlighted the political significance of this Agreement. However, it is also important to highlight its cultural potential. Culture, including the Irish language, plays a major part in the Agreement. That was one area where the Nationalists in particular, although not exclusively so, were pleased to see enormous strides being made.
There are many different facets of culture. The Screen Commission gives us an opportunity to promote the Irish film industry nationally and internationally. The raison d'être for the Screen Commission was that it would be a one-stop-shop and an information body for people who want Ireland as a film location. We hope it will be successful in promoting the film industry.
I do not understand the Deputy's question about the Irish music industry. Is he referring to copyright?
Yes.
Copyright is not the responsibility of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. That is a matter for another Minister.
That is an abdication of responsibility.
Two forthcoming Bills will deal with the issue of copyright, which is an intricate legal problem. I am well aware of the difficulties faced by people in the Irish music industry in this regard. I received many representations, particularly when in Opposition, from organisations such as IMRO. If the Deputy wishes to promote that view, he does not need me to advise him to table questions to the relevant Minister.
The Minister has once again abdicated responsibility for Irish artists. I do not share the Minister's view about the cultural relations committee. It should be under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
A major UN conference on culture was held in Sweden last March and April but no Minister attended it and no direction was given to the cultural relations committee to state Ireland's case there. Perhaps the Minister could give me information on that. Do we have an Internet site to promote Irish culture internationally? If so, what is on it and when was it last updated?
The Ireland office in New York, which houses Bord Fáilte, the Irish Trade Board and IDA Ireland is so big that these agencies have begun to look for sub-tenants. Why has the Minister not considered sending a cultural attaché there to promote Irish culture in the United States where up to 40 million people claim Irish connections? I know from a reply I received yesterday that the Minister went to Los Angeles to ensure that film directors keep Ireland on their mental map. Perhaps the Minister might explain that to me in terms of the promotion of the film industry here.
As the Deputy said, I replied to a question yesterday about a visit I made to Los Angeles. As I was visiting the United States with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, I took the opportunity to visit many of the film studios and to speak to the top people there. I was pleased there was a positive approach to Ireland. They appreciated the fact that a Minister called to explain to them our wish to see them in Ireland and to promote the tax incentives and other proposals we want brought to fruition. I stressed the fact that we wanted to encourage more people to come to Ireland, not only to reap the immediate rewards from such co-operation but to help build our indigenous industry through training and experience.
There is a need to keep Ireland to the fore with regard to the film industry. I am sure the Deputy is well aware that there is increasing competition from many countries so far as incentives are concerned. The industry is changing. The point was made that it is based on trust and that those involved like to maintain constant personal contact with people directly involved in administration. The point was also made that many film-makers, when they worked elsewhere in Europe, were concerned about the level of bureaucracy but that that is not the position here. I was at pains to say, as has been proved in other examples, particularly Steven Spielberg's film "Saving Private Ryan", that if difficulties were encountered, the Department had experience of drawing a number of Departments together, such as the Departments of Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, smoothing the way and making things easier for film-makers and encouraging others to come to make their films here.
I said on that occasion that the Screen Commission was in place and that I intended, with the commission, to make a longer promotional tour of the United States to ensure the competition from others was at least matched, if not outstepped. The product we have to offer is far superior from that on offer elsewhere.
The Deputy referred to the Cultural Relations Committee. Did he encourage my predecessor to move the committee from the Department of Foreign Affairs to my Department and, if not, why?
The word was dropped from the title of the Department.
Perhaps the Deputy was not present when it was explained extensively——
I was.
——that the term "Oidhreacht"— Heritage — was all encompassing. I am aware that Deputy Higgins does not share the view I expressed on that occasion.
It is an abuse.
Deputy Kenny's question was taken in priority time. We are now 15 minutes over time. To be fair to other Deputies——
The Minister has not replied——
I am proceeding to Question No. 4.
I have never been disorderly but the Minister has not replied to my questions——
The Chair has no control over the Minister's replies.
——about the US office, the Internet site and the UN conference. She has rambled on for ten minutes wasting the time of the House.
Question No. 4 is being taken in ordinary time.
