Wednesday, 30 Jan 2013

Written Answers Nos. 13-19

The Gathering Initiatives

Questions (13)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

13. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on his Department’s role in the Gathering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4479/13]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

As the Deputy is aware, The Gathering is an initiative of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, and it has my full support and that of the agencies under my Department's remit. A range of actions being taken by my Department and its agencies to support The Gathering were outlined in reply to Question No 16 of 28 November last. That reply acknowledged the importance of genealogy in the context of The Gathering, especially in terms of helping members of the Irish Diaspora to establish links with their family history and place. My Department, the National Library and the National Archives are concentrating on progressing improvements to our genealogical offering as part of our contribution to The Gathering.

Art in all its forms is an intrinsic part of Irish culture and will play an important part in The Gathering. As outlined on 28 November last, our national cultural institutions such as the National Museum and the National Gallery are promoting a number of initiatives to contribute towards The Gathering. In addition, the National Concert Hall is focusing on two periods in relation to The Gathering: St Patrick's Weekend and Summer at the NCH, where a wide range of concerts featuring leading Irish artists in traditional, popular and classical music will be held throughout July and August. The National Library's award-winning multimedia exhibition on WB Yeats will run throughout the year. It is also mounting an exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the homecoming visit of President John F Kennedy to Ireland in 1963, in partnership with the National Archives, with the support of my own Department, the US Embassy and the JFK Library. It will also host the travelling exhibition "The Fifth Province: Irish County Societies in America", originally presented in Glucksman Ireland House, New York. The National Archives will also be playing its part.

As outlined previously, the Arts Council is playing an ongoing key role in funding and developing arts events around the country during 2013. This will seek to ensure that many of the visitors for The Gathering can experience excellent performances and exhibitions locally. In addition, both the Culture Night and International Celebration of Irish Culture initiatives will make a significant contribution to The Gathering.

In the heritage area, my Department is supporting an initiative planned for 2013 by Mayo County Council to create an architectural installation in a westerly location in Co Mayo which will be informed by past and present Diaspora celebrated by The Gathering. I am informed that the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, has made a submission to Fáilte Ireland regarding the international marketing of Heritage Week 2013 to link in with The Gathering. In addition, the Council grant-aided a genealogist post last year in the organisation Ireland Reaching Out, which is a Diaspora-focused organization contracted to support The Gathering.

In terms of the Gaeltacht, Údarás na Gaeltachta will be placing particular emphasis on events aimed at attracting visitors to Ireland as part of The Gathering in the context of its 2013 scheme for supporting traditional festivals in Gaeltacht areas. In summary, therefore, I consider that both my Department and the various bodies under its remit will be making a substantial contribution towards The Gathering initiative.

Arts Promotion

Questions (14, 130)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

14. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the practical impact and cost of the Arts in Education Charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4481/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which his Department avails of opportunities to promote the arts through the education system with particular reference to primary, second and third levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4815/13]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 130 together.

The Arts in Education Charter places new responsibilities on Government Departments, agencies, cultural institutions and arts organisations in terms of providing and promoting arts education to children and young people. The practical impact of this Charter will result in a more joined-up Government approach across Departments, education agencies and arts organisations. The Charter will require groups like the Arts Council, the National Cultural Institutions, the Colleges of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to work with both my own Department and the Department of Education and Skills in order to bring the arts into the classroom and school children into the arts and culture sector.

A High Level Implementation Group will oversee the implementation of the Charter and will report to the Minister of Education and Skills and myself at least twice a year. The Implementation Group may also advise on updating and improving the Charter and will provide a strategic, high-level and ongoing point of contact between the policy-makers, key providers and students in the fields of arts and education. It is not envisaged that either Department will seek additional resources specifically for the implementation of the Arts in Education Charter - rather we will work to leverage the maximum from existing resources. More details of this initiative can be obtained on my Department's website under the Projects and Programmes link listed under

http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Arts/ProjectsandProgrammes/ArtsInEducation/

EU Presidency Agenda

Questions (15, 34, 42)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

15. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his priorities during the Irish presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4475/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

34. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht arising from his contacts with the various stakeholders throughout the arts sector, the extent to which he envisages, in the course of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, the development of the arts sector as a major brand leader throughout the EU and globally and to utilise the medium of the arts in Ireland as a means of promoting the national image and thereby continuing its contribution to national economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4494/13]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

42. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to utilize the EU Presidency to promote Arts, Heritage and the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4504/13]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 34 and 42 together.

During Ireland's EU Presidency, we will focus in the cultural area on two legislative proposals - Creative Europe 2014-2020 and Europe for Citizens 2014-2020 - as well as the European Capitals of Culture 2020-2033 proposal. The Creative Europe proposal is very important for artists and arts organisations across the entire European Union. It is vital that we get agreement on this so that those working in the culture and creative sectors can benefit from the new programme as soon as possible. It should be noted, however, that agreement on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework is essential to ensure that the Creative Europe programme is adopted in time for the sectors to start to benefit from it from the beginning of 2014. The Irish Presidency also considers that Europe for Citizens is an important proposal for progression. This proposal seeks to enhance civic participation at the Union level. A further key element of our Presidency is the timely adoption of the European Capitals of Culture proposal so that the chosen locations can be afforded the necessary lead-in times to bring forward preparations for their period of designation.

I would also like to refer to Ireland's Cultural Programme for the Presidency - Culture Connects - which I launched recently in Dublin with Minister of State Creighton. The Programme aims to showcase Irish culture across Europe, as well as European culture in Ireland, thereby illustrating the shared nature of much of our cultural experiences. The Programme incorporates over 300 projects being undertaken under the management and oversight of my Department - at home and abroad. It will facilitate the engagement of audiences throughout Ireland with European artists, as well as exposing our indigenous artistic community to wider cultural experiences across Europe and further afield, by way of a range of festivals, traditional arts and other specific events. The Culture Connects programme is available on my Department's website and I have also made arrangements to lodge copies in the Oireachtas Library. The EU is culturally diverse, with a rich, shared, European heritage. I firmly believe that it benefits us all to bring our arts and culture to a wider EU audience, whilst also experiencing the cultural offerings of our partner countries.

From the heritage perspective, certain nature conservation issues which come into my area of responsibility will fall to be dealt with under the Environment Council formation. The first of these is an EU Commission proposal in respect of Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization. This is intended to meet the requirements of the Nagoya Protocol within the EU and sets out obligations for users of genetic resources in the Union. The Protocol is aimed at ensuring that there is a reward to countries that are the source of biological materials which may be collected for use in other countries in new and profitable products, such as foods, medicines, or biotech agents. It would protect developing countries from so-called "biopiracy" and is also a key step in meeting the 2020 Global Targets on Biodiversity. Ireland's Presidency aims to make significant progress within the Council with regard to the overall objective of EU ratification of the Nagoya Protocol in early 2014.

A new Directive on Invasive Alien Species is expected to be adopted by the Commission in the near future and the Irish Presidency will commence work on this item, if it is adopted. The Irish Presidency also co-ordinated EU positions for the first plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which took place last week in Bonn, Germany. This was an important meeting to establish this new international body, which will provide scientific advice on biodiversity issues.

Finally, in relation to heritage matters, the Irish Presidency is currently overseeing the formulation of common positions on the proposals to be discussed at the 16th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Illegal Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, next March.

With regard to the Irish language, my Department is a member of the Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity (NPLD), which is a European-wide network working in the field of language policy and planning. During the Irish Presidency of the EU, my colleague, Minister of State McGinley, will launch the NPLD’s European Roadmap for Linguistic Diversity in Brussels. It is envisaged that this will raise awareness at a European level on the vital importance of linguistic diversity.

Abbey Theatre

Questions (16, 43)

Clare Daly

Question:

16. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of State funding paid to the Abbey Theatre over the past five years. [4510/13]

Clare Daly

Question:

43. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will explain the relationship between the Abbey Theatre and the State in terms of ownership structures and status and financial oversight. [4509/13]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 43 together.

The Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainstreach is a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital, which was established under the Companies Act 1963. It has a board of eleven members, including the Chair. The board and the management are responsible for the day to day running of the Theatre. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht appoints the Chair and two of the other directors. Oversight is provided by the Arts Council, which provides the annual operating grant to the Theatre, while the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General audits the financial accounts.

The Abbey Theatre's mission is to create world-class theatre that actively engages with and reflects Irish society. It seeks to achieve its mission by:

- Sustaining and re-imagining the repertoire of Irish plays;

- Presenting classic and contemporary world theatre;

- Promoting and developing the long-term success of Irish theatre;

- Touring nationally and internationally; and

- Engaging its communities in outreach and education programmes.

The combined total amount of funding provided by the Arts Council and by my Department for the years 2008 to 2012 was some €41.96m. Details of the funding are set out in the table. Of that €41.96m my Department provided €1.66m in capital funding to the Abbey Theatre for capital upgrades, equipment replacement and health and safety investments.

Since 2006, the Arts Council, as the principal provider of current State funding to the Abbey Theatre, has provided its funding via a combination of annual and three year multiannual funding agreements. Such funding is provided as a contribution towards both artistic programming costs and operating costs, such as staff and ongoing administrative expenditure. I am advised that funding is offered in response to proposals submitted by the Abbey and, once agreement has been reached on the key deliverables, the purpose for which funding is used is then monitored on an ongoing basis via regular reporting arrangements. Funding for touring production within Ireland is provided by the Arts Council, while funding for international touring is provided under my Department's Culture Ireland Programme.

TABLE: Funding to the Abbey Theatre 2008-2012

Funding Type	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Arts Council Revenue Grant	€10,000,000	€8,350,000	€7,250,000	€7,100,000	€7,100,000
Arts Council Touring Grant				€68,000	€58,000
Culture Ireland Touring Grant	€49,511	€26,400		€236,348	€60,204
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Capital Grant	€297,701	€196,272	€467,821	€249,662	€450,000
Total	€10,347,212	€8,572,672	€7,717,821	€7,654,010	€7,668,204

Question No. 17 answered with Question No. 7.

Question No. 18 answered with Question No. 12.

State Properties

Questions (19, 48)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

19. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to take into State ownership the Bank of Ireland building at College Green, Dublin, based on its historical significance; if the issue has been discussed with the owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4262/13]

Seán Crowe

Question:

48. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position in relation to his effort to secure Bank of Ireland on College Green, Dublin, for the purpose of the Arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4503/13]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 48 together.

I refer the Deputy to my previous replies on this matter. As outlined in those replies, I met the Chair and Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland and had a constructive engagement on the issues.