THE MINISTER for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen, will meet newly appointed Minister of State Martin Mansergh today to discuss their ministerial roles.
There was some confusion yesterday as to their respective areas of responsibility, with a Government spokesman saying the position would be clarified when the designation order outlining Mr Mansergh’s responsibilities was finalised.
Announcing Mr Mansergh’s appointment on Tuesday as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, the Taoiseach revealed he would also be given responsibilities for the arts.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Drivetime, Mr Mansergh stressed his interest in music, theatre, opera and books.“I attend a lot of performances, locally and nationally,” said Mr Mansergh, who added that he had recently bought seats in the new Wexford Opera Hall. He said he understood he would be deputising for Mr Cullen in the area of arts but not in sport and tourism.
Mr Cullen said last night: “I am delighted that my good friend and colleague, Martin Mansergh, will assist me in the area of the arts because there are so many things going on.” Mr Cullen said he too had a lifelong interest in the arts, which began when his life “changed forever” on seeing a revival of Showboat as a child.
“My private life has all been about the arts. There’s probably not an opera theatre in the world that I haven’t been in, all in my own private time, I hasten to add... I can assure all of you there wasn’t a happier man in Dáil Éireann last week, and I include Brian Cowen in that, when he appointed me to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
Mr Cullen was speaking at the launch of the Waiting For Godot all-Ireland tour at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin. The Samuel Beckett play will be performed for one night only at 40 venues to mark the Dublin theatre’s 80th anniversary,
Gate Theatre director Michael Colgan said the Gate’s production of Godot “has been all over the world, but never all over Ireland”.
A word in your ear, Minister: page 20