Written Answers. - International Arts Agency. Tuesday, 25 April 1995

Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 451 No. 8 Page of 234

  104.  Miss de Valera      asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht      the plans, if any, he has in relation to the establishment of an international agency for the Arts; and if discussions have taken place with the Department of Foreign Affairs in this regard. [7236/95]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins):    The Deputy will be aware that there already exists within the Department of Foreign Affairs a cultural relations committee, which is appointed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and whose function is to make recommendations to the Tánaiste for expenditure on schemes for the promotion of Ireland's cultural relations abroad. The establishment of a new independent agency to take account of the international dimension of arts development has recently been mooted in “The Arts Plan 1995-1997”. This plan has yet to be considered by the Government and the implementation of its component parts will have to await this consideration. However, I can inform the Deputy that discussions between my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs on the question of the establishment of a new international agency for the arts will take place as soon as the Government has considered the arts plan.

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