asked the Taoiseach the criteria the Government used when selecting Dublin to be the European City of Culture for 1991.

Dublin City Council sought in 1986 the designation of Dublin as a European City of Culture in the context of a resolution in 1985 of the European Community Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs to have an annual celebration of a Community city as a European City of Culture. This was the only application received from Ireland at the time. The Government supported it in competition with other European cities and succeeded in having Dublin so designated for 1991.

Is it not true to say that the Government did not have to seek applications and that the country chosen could designate the city? In that context, would it not have been appropriate for the Government to choose some city other than Dublin? Obviously I have a preference for one particular city but there are a number of other locations outside of Dublin which could have been nominated and which would have been welcomed.

The final selection was between Dublin and Budapest, and Dublin won.

That would not necessarily satisfy some people in Cork.

Dublin applied and the Government supported Dublin.

While Dublin may have applied, it is the Government who nominate the city.

The issue was between Dublin and Budapest.

There are other criteria apart from applying.

For once in this world, Cork were late.

Question No. 8.

I have the regulations in front of me and there is no question of any country applying. A country is nominated——

We must proceed by way of supplementary questions.

This is typical of this Government's attitude, anything in Dublin is good and anything outside of it is bad.

Question No. 8, please.

The Taoiseach did not search for the cultural heart of Ireland.

What is wrong with Dublin?

There is nothing wrong with Dublin but there are other places in Ireland apart from Dublin.