Sinn Féin Senator Fintan Warfield has expressed his alarm at the large volume of vacancies which continue to exist on boards for which the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin has responsibility for.
Speaking today in the Seanad, Senator Warfield said:
“Almost 50% of the boards for which Minister Martin has responsibility for currently have vacancies.
“Perhaps even more worryingly, four of these same Boards are without a chairperson.
“Particularly concerning is the situation of the Arts Council.
“Currently six of the 13 board positions, including that of chairperson, lie idle.
“The Arts Council – a State agency with a budget of €130 million – has now been without a chairperson since December 2023.
“It seems incredible that in this day and age we are allowing this to continue.
“Minister Martin must address this issue with the immediacy it deserves.”
