Sir, - I refer to a letter from Mr Declan Bale, press and information officer in the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (January 20th) concerning the international symposium in the framework of "Culture 2000", an EU project presented by Young European Strings School of Music, held in the National Concert Hall between January 10th and 14th.
Mr Bale says it was "regrettable that the Minister's agreement to open the conference should have been advertised, without her prior knowledge, as a substantive contribution" when at no stage had she agreed to give a "lecture" or to participate in a "hour-and-a-half open debate" (which her long-standing schedule of commitments would not have permitted that day).
On December 3rd, 2000 (almost a month-and-a-half before the event), I wrote to Ms de Valera, enclosing leaflets announcing the event.
This letter and the leaflets enclosed clearly outlined the nature of the symposium, gave details about the Internet address where the text of the lectures would be posted for greater media attention - which was one of the primary goals of this EU grant - and emphasised that each of the lectures would be followed by an open debate.
The letter specifically expressed the hope that the Irish contribution of our guest speakers would give a clear vision of the intentions of the Irish Government regarding music education and that the open debate following each of the lectures would give the public an opportunity to contribute with relevant questions.
As a follow-up to my December 3rd letter, I phoned the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and was given confirmation that the letter had been received.
I sincerely regret that the Minister's tight schedule did not allow her to stay longer in the National Concert Hall and to contribute to the debate, especially as she has a particular interest in this subject and, as a member of the Cabinet, she was the only speaker who could speak for the Government. - Yours, etc.,
Maria Kelemen,(co-organiser of symposium), The Close, Cypress Downs, Dublin 6W.