§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the membership of the Steering Group for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's research project on the Arts of Irish and Ulster-Scots includes equal representation from both cultural communities. [100446]
§ Angela SmithIn setting up the Steering Group the Arts Council of Northern Ireland invited nominations from Foras na Gaeilge, Iontaobhas Ultach/Ultach Trust and Tha Boord o Ulster Scotch. These are the bodies partnering with the Arts Council in funding the research. A nomination was also invited from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure as the Arts Council's sponsoring Department.
The Steering Group consists of seven members: three nominees of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and one nominee from each of the above organisations. The single criterion for appointing members of the Steering Group was status as a funding partner. In this context, ensuring numerically equal representation from both cultural communities has not been a consideration for the Arts Council.