Separate but equal?

Paul Brady, Christy Moore and Paddy Moloney are to lead a delegation of Irish musicians opposed to Section 21 of the proposed new Arts Bill, which would result in Irish traditional music being treated separately from the main body of the arts.

Tomorrow, December 5th at 1pm, the musicians will submit a letter to Cecilia Keaveney T.D., Chairperson of the Dail Committee that is reviewing the Bill, at the gates of Dail Eireann.

Section 21 of the Arts Bill proposes that a separate funding committee be established to oversee spending on the traditional arts, effectively creating a separate Arts Council for traditional music. Reportedly both the Arts Council and the traditional music community are strongly opposed to this proposal. Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann alone are in favour of the proposal.

"All artists and musicians welcome increased Government interest in the Arts, and especially welcome the promise of increased funding for traditional music," says a spokesperson. "However, enshrining the separate-arts-council idea in legislation, is not the way to best secure the future of Irish traditional music.

"We call on the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, John O'Donoghue, to drop the unfortunately divisive Section 21 aspect of an otherwise excellent piece of legislation, and to maintain the arms-length principle in dealings between central government and a transparent and accountable Arts Council."