There should be no impulse by State to suffocate artistic freedom

ARTS Minister Heather Humphreys is reputationally dead-on-arrival. Her demise is less about dastardly deeds than the damning belief she was led by the nose. That impression was confirmed by her near incoherence when questioned by the media and her refusal to answer questions since. There is nothing so debilitating for a minister as a fool’s pardon.

The prior appointment of Fine Gael Seanad candidate John McNulty, to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) to bolster his candidature on the cultural panel, speaks volumes about unreformed politics. Less has been said about what is means for our arts policy; ultimately that is as important. Contempt is at the core of all this. Just as the lack of intent to reform politics is obvious, so too is the deep disregard for Irish culture and artists by the State. If Humphreys first showcased that disregard for McNulty, it was starkly underlined again yesterday. Except then, there was no carelessness — only calculation — and the minister had no excuse. She may have been blindsided over McNulty, but she is fully responsible for the general scheme of legislation to establish the National Concert Hall on a statutory basis.

This is the first full, considered policy initiative from this minister. A general scheme for a bill results from lengthy consideration, including consideration by government. If McNulty is an unintended consequence, the attitude to the arts which he is a poster boy for is thought through. It pervaded the draft legislation presented on the minster’s behalf by officials, to the joint committee on the environment, culture, and the Gaeltacht yesterday afternoon.