The Stage

Cullen replaces Brennan as Irish arts minister

Published Tuesday 13 May 2008 at 10:05 by Anthony Garvey

A new Irish arts minister has been appointed - the third in less than a year - following a government reshuffle by incoming Taoiseach Brian Cowen, the former finance minister, who has succeeded Bertie Ahern.

The portfolio has gone to Martin Cullen, the social welfare minister, a 53-year-old political veteran and a cabinet regular for more than six years.

He replaces Seamus Brennan, who was appointed to the office just last summer by Ahern following his general election victory, but who is stepping down because of ill health.

Cullen, who has represented the Waterford constituency for more than 20 years, should be regarded as a heavyweight, having occupied such high profile ministries as environment and transport, but his star has waned in recent years.

One Irish political pundit wrote that his move from social welfare to the arts “is deemed a success because of the perception that he was long primed for the axe”. Another claimed that “the arts ministry is seen as the one nearest the cabinet exit”.

A member of the Irish Senate, Ivana Bacik, has publicly challenged that view, asking why the department of the arts is seen in such a negative light. Discussing the Cullen appointment, she said: “By any objective standards, the job of political decision-taking on the arts carries the potential to bring about changes that affect all of us, and would seem like a dream job. Yet every minister appointed since Michael D Higgins left the office in 1997 has appeared to regard it as a consolation prize, or worse, a poisoned chalice.”

The Irish Arts Council will be seeking an early meeting with the new minister to press its case for increased funding. Last year its target of €100 million fell well short, with an annual allocation of just more than €82 million, and with the national finances under considerably more strain now, bridging that gap will be a tough challenge for the new man.