asked the Taoiseach if and when he intends to appoint a new Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers. - Arts Council Appointment.
2.
As required by statute, the council will be appointed in 1988, that is at the end of this year.
Would the Tánaiste say if the incoming Arts Council will be in a position to adopt the five year programme which has been drafted by the outgoing Arts Council and if the Government will provide funds to enable them to implement that development plan?
There will be no bar on the incoming Arts Council adopting any constructive proposals they will have before them from the outgoing Arts Council. I would hope that they would proceed in that way.
Would the Tánaiste say — given the 13 per cent cut in the Arts Council allocation announced by the Government last week and the statement by the Arts Council that they need in the order of £4 million from national lottery funds to maintain their existing functions — whether that money will be forthcoming from the Government?
That is a matter which can be examined. Certainly I will have Deputy Spring's views on this matter borne in mind. This is really a matter for discussion between the Taoiseach and the Arts Council — whether this council or the incoming one — but certainly his views are pertinent to the type of constructive expenditure that can be incurred.
Would the Tánaiste say whether the new Arts Council will be preparing independent submissions for national lottery funds or whether they will be forced to transmit their submissions through the committee in the Taoiseach's office which is refining and laundering proposals for arts expenditure?
The word "laundering" is one that I regard as reprehensible——
(Interruptions.)
——in the high realms of art to which we are now paying attention.
It needs a broad conceptual approach.
It is a question of doing our best within the budget available for the arts in this country; that is all.
My question was whether the new Arts Council will be making independent submissions or whether those submissions will be processed by the committee in the Taoiseach's Department. That is a very specific question.
Of course the Arts Council and the Taoiseach's Department will process the matter and decide what projects are worthy of attention and from where funds can be obtained to deal with constructive proposals in the whole field of the arts.
Question No. 3. Let us have another question.
Not only will they be ironed but they will be laundered.