Vol. 549 No. 4
13 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has furnished the board of the Abbey Theatre with the reports she has commissioned over the last year; if she has met the board of directors to discuss her future plans for the Abbey Theatre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6958/02]
I received two principal reports in this context during 2001 relating to a proposed site at Grand Canal Harbour and a more general evaluation of options for redeveloping the theatre. I did not pass these reports to the board of the Abbey, but the authors met representatives of the theatre in the course of preparing both reports. My officials would also have briefed theatre representatives on their broad conclusions. I met the chairman and members of the Abbey board last week and explained to them the basis for the Government decision to support the redevelopment of the theatre on its existing site. At that meeting the chairman of the Abbey board welcomed the Government decision.
This matter will be progressed in close consultation and co-operation with the board of the Abbey at all stages.
Does the Minister agree that this decision was arrived at by her and her Cabinet colleagues with minimum consultation, discussion and debate with the Abbey board and all of us? She referred to the two reports commissioned by her Department on the future of the Abbey and prepared by the Office of Public Works. Will she inform the House whether her decisions were based on the findings of these reports? Why have the reports not been made available to those involved, primarily the board of the Abbey and those of us in the House interested in the future of the Abbey, our national theatre? What is so secretive about them? The Minister is guarding their secrecy as if they were the third secret of Fatima. Will she lay them in the Oireachtas Library in order that we can all read them and make educated and informed suggestions on what should be done? Is she satisfied that the present site offers the best alternative? Will further property have to be purchased to give more room or has she once more been pressurised by the Taoiseach who is obviously anxious to have the national theatre, by hook or by crook, located between Drumcondra and the Liffey?
First, I am on record on a number of occasions both inside and outside the House as saying my preference has always been for the Abbey to remain on the existing site. I have said so on numerous occasions, both publicly and privately inside and outside the House. Therefore, there is no question of being pressurised in any way by the Taoiseach or anyone else. The Taoiseach does not do his business in that way.
Second, the Deputy said no consultation has taken place. There has been a great deal of consultation on the issue because, even though my view from the beginning has been that the Abbey Theatre should be located on its existing site, other proposals were made to me by the Abbey board. Because they were brought forward by the board, I decided the best and fairest way to proceed was to have those particular options looked at, which is precisely what we have done. Some would like to call the fact that we have had such consultation prevarication. However, one cannot have it both ways. I always believe in consultation, which has taken place. I have had numerous meetings with the Abbey board, as have my officials. As I said, the representatives of the Abbey Theatre were made aware by my officials of the conclusions of the report to which the Deputy referred. The reason it has not been made available in full is that it is price sensitive.
In view of the decision taken by the Minister and her Cabinet colleagues – I do not know how firm it is, but, obviously, as it has been taken by Cabinet it must be firm – we have very little information as to what will be done or what the new Abbey will be like. Has she given any consideration to the fact that the Abbey Theatre and company must be relocated while the present building is being expanded and developed and, if so, where will they be located? Can she give us a timescale as to when the project will be completed, given that the Abbey will celebrate its centenary in 2004? Will it be completed prior to 2004 or will it be located somewhere else for the celebration of this great centenary to which we are all looking forward?
This is a firm decision made by Cabinet. The redevelopment will take place on the existing site and will be pursued through a PPP in regard to which, as the Deputy will be aware, there are different approaches and different models. The Abbey Theatre will sign off on the best approach to be taken in this regard. An initial meeting has already been held between officials of the Department and the Office of Public Works on progressing the Government decision, in particular, the development of the most appropriate structure for a public-private partnership. There is, therefore, no delay in the matter.
The Deputy asked about the position in regard to the theatre's work in terms of the rebuilding programme. It is obviously up to the Abbey to decide whether it will, for example, go on tour. However, if it decides it wishes to have facilities at home, we will do all we can to facilitate it by asking the Office of Public Works to look at further locations during that period.
