Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 2

Written Answers. - Irish Culture Festival.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

66 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the way in which her plans for a major Irish culture festival to be held in China in 2003 are progressing; the budget which has been allocated for this event; the organisation which is to oversee the planning of the festival; and the cultural organisations which will be asked to send representatives to China before and during the festival. [15781/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

In the course of my recent visit to the People's Republic of China I met the Minster of Culture. We agreed that the most practical way to further enhance the bi-lateral relationship between our two countries and to open a new chapter in the development of our cultural ties would be to initiate a series of cultural exchanges in the short-term, including exchanges of exhibits from national cultural institutions.

I look forward to a visit to Ireland to be arranged for later this year, if possible, by representatives of national cultural institutions from the People's Republic of China lay the groundwork for future cultural exchanges and ultimately for the staging of arts festivals in our respective countries.

Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 47.