asked the Taoiseach the progress made to date in discussions involving his Department, the Arts Council and the National Ballet Company; and his views on whether these discussions will ultimately be fruitful.

These discussions have been held and I am at present considering a report of the meeting and an assessment of the possible courses of action.

I thank the Taoiseach for that reply. Will the Taoiseach accept that the National Ballet is a national resource? It is something that not many of us including myself, are overly familiar with, but looking at the conflict and the difficulties that have occurred in the last number of months between the Arts Council and the National Ballet, I see a certain degree of vindictiveness on the part of the Arts Council. Will the Taoiseach do everything he can, through his office, to resolve this difficulty and to restore the National Ballet to its proper status?

I am sure the Deputy will not mind if I cannot accept everything he said.

Just 90 per cent?

There are fairly trenchantly held different views on this issue in different quarters.

Will the Taoiseach agree that one of the reasons why the Arts Council had to make this decision was that the amount of funding granted this year was reduced——

No.

——and given that they had to make certain choices, would the Taoiseach agree with me that in this case they made the wrong choice?

I will not be drawn into that at this stage, but the first statement by the Deputy is not correct. This decision was not taken solely on financial grounds.

Question No. 3.

Can I ask a brief supplementary?

A final supplementary from Deputy Spring.

The Taoiseach said that different views are held in different quarters in relation to the reasons for this conflict. Perhaps the Taoiseach will give his view as to the reasons for this conflict between the Arts Council and the National Ballet? The Taoiseach has always held himself out to be a man who appreciates the arts. Perhaps the Taoiseach will give us his view and a solution to the problem?

My knowledge and appreciation of the arts is comprehensive but I would not have the termerity to intervene on the artistic aspects of this debate.

Question No. 3.

I will have to dance very nimbly.

What about the marina waltz?

Sorry, I have called Question No. 3.