Dick Spring
Ceist:1 Mr. Spring asked the Taoiseach if he will outline his plans for the development of the arts in Ireland.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Arts Development.
The development of the arts in Ireland will be a major concern of my Administration. The appointment of a Minister of State in my Department, with formal responsibility for arts and culture, is indicative of that concern.
The Minister of State for Arts and Culture, with my full support, will be concerned, within the necessary constraints of the public finances, to aid the development of the arts, to improve access and participation for the general public and to advance the status of the artist in our society.
A particular concern he and I will have is to ensure that the new responsibilities of the European Community in the area of culture provided for under the Maastricht Treaty are fully developed and funded so as to complement our national activities in this area.
While I have absolute confidence in the Minister of State with responsibility for Arts and Culture, it is unfortunate that he has also many other heavy responsibilities for European Affairs and Womens' Affairs. Therefore, I would have thought the Taoiseach might have considered it incumbent on him to appoint a Minister with sole responsibility for the arts.
May I put two questions to the Taoiseach: first, I am sure he is aware of the severe crisis obtaining vis-à-vis the Cork Opera House. Can he give the House some guarantee that his Department will intervene to ensure it does not close, which appears likely at present? Second, would he not consider that accessibility to the arts, on the part of schoolchildren in particular, is severely limited?
The Deputy has raised a specific matter worthy of a separate question.
Put it to music.
After all, it is supposed to be "open Government".
The shutters have been slammed back again.
I regret that we have got no clarity with regard to the Cork Opera House on this occasion; be that as it may. May I ask the Taoiseach again whether he does not consider that lack of accessibility to the arts on the part of schoolchildren in particular is indeed regrettable and that there is need for something urgent to be done about that matter?
I am sure the Deputy will be fully aware that the question of the Cork Opera House is a matter for the Arts Council. Second, there will be plenty of scope for the development of the arts. The Maastricht Treaty includes the following Article (No. IX) on culture:
1. The Community shall contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity, and at the same time bringing their common cultural heritage to the fore.
2. Action by the Community shall encourage co-operation between Member States and, if necessary, support and supplement their action in the following areas:
— improvement of the knowledge and dissemination of the culture and history of the European peoples;
— conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance;
— non-commercial cultural exchanges;
— artistic and literary creation, including in the audiovisual sector.
I am sure the House will welcome those opportunities which provide plenty of scope for development.
Would the Taoiseach agree that the Arts constitute an area of enormous potential for employment growth and provision? Would he ensure that his Government's arts policy emphasises this and emphasises also access, in the regions outside Dublin, to the full range of artistic endeavour at present avialable in the capital city?
I agree with the Deputy that there is a large potential for employment growth in the area of the arts. I can assure him that all regions of the country will be given fair consideration in that respect.
This being the first occasion on which the new Taoiseach has answered questions in this area, would he confirm that it is his intention to continue to develop and maintain an independent Arts Council with primary responsibility for development of the arts?. In that context would he indicate to the House whether his Government will continue to seek to achieve a full and satisfactory funding of the Arts Council, in particular, to increase and achieve the present goal set of the order of a £13 million annual budget?
The answer to both questions raised by the Deputy is "yes".
Is it the intention of the Taoiseach to retain his predecessor's arts adviser?
The arts adviser is in place in my Department.
Same person.
Arising our of the Taoisech's reply and his reference to the Maastricht Treaty, can he give the House an assurance he will have machinery put in place to prevent the loss of heritage material on the coming into effect of the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty?
The Deputy can be assured that every possible effort and initiative to develop the arts, utilising all the resources that will accrue to us when the Maastricht Treaty provisions are in place, will be made. Moreover, its provisions are not yet in place.
(Limerick East): The Taoiseach made no reference to the Irish language and its place in the artistic world here. Does it remain the policy of Fianna Fáil and of this Government to restore the Irish language as the vernacular here?
Sin ceist eile.
The Deputy should know the answer without asking.
I am calling Question No. 2.