Allin Gray: Orchestra issue urgently needs addressing

It shouldn’t be RTÉ’s role to decide a national policy for our orchestras, says Allin Gray.

WITH the recent announcement of a review of orchestras by RTÉ, the national provision of this aspect of culture in Ireland has come under the spotlight, being raised in the Dáil by both Micheál Martin and by Joan Burton.

Mr Martin describes the orchestras as a “national treasure” and Ms Burton claims they are “an intrinsic part of our culture”. And yet we have a new Minister for Culture, Josepha Madigan, who, like the previous minister, is washing her hands of the matter and claiming it is in the remit of the Minister for Communications, Denis Naughten, under whose portfolio responsibility for RTÉ lies.