Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
364. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will commission an independent investigation into the cancellation of the tender for communications from the Arts Council after four months following differing and conflicting explanations for the reason of the tender cancelled. [35437/20]
View answer365. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to a dispute between a union (details supplied) and the Arts Council over its breaching of agreements; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that a work to rule may impact the distribution of resources to artists which the Council is established to serve; her views on the Arts Council’s handling of its internal and external communications with trade unions, artists, tenderers and its staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35438/20]
View answer366. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the reasons the Arts Council cancelled a tender after four months of processing same have been investigated; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Arts Council has changed its reasons for cancellation; and her views on the inconsistency of the claim by the council that one tender was cancelled due to costs while it advertises another tender for HR services (details supplied). [35439/20]
View answer367. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will request that the Arts Council also does a survey on its communications with artists in addition to the survey being carried of its board and staff in relation to its communications in order that a fuller picture may be gained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35440/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 364 to 367, inclusive, together.
The Arts Council is a statutory body under the Arts Act 2003. This legislation specifically provides for the council’s independence in its funding decisions. With reference to the Deputy's questions these are administrative matters and are a matter for the council.
As a courtesy to the Deputy, my Department did contact the council on the matter and I understand that this information was the subject of a letter dated 21 October 2020 that was sent to the Deputy.
