Last Wednesday and Thursday (April 14 and 15) Aosdána held its 2010 agm in the Armagh City Hotel, under the auspices of the Armagh City and District Council and the North South Ministerial Council, which is based in Armagh.
It was the first meeting to be held in Northern Ireland (the only other agm held outside Dublin was in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo), but the speeches at the welcoming dinner stressed that the meeting reflected the long-standing tradition of all Ireland collaboration and interaction between artists and arts organisations.
The agm was significant in other respects too, not least in the unanimous vote supporting the motion seeking clarification of the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002, proposed by Margaretta D’Arcy, and seconded by Paula Meehan.
The motion reads as follows
With reference to sections 7 (6) and 34 of the Redress Act 2002, Aosdána calls on the Minister for Justice and/or the Attorney General to confirm that nothing in these sections can or should be construed in such a way as to inhibit any truthful treatment of the subject, whether factual or fictionalised, in memoirs, novels, short stories, poetry, plays, film-scripts, etc., or in any other art form.
From the Residential Redress Act 2002 (dealing with compensation to victims of clerical abuse)
7 (6).– A person shall not publish any information concerning an application or an award made under this Act that refers to any other person (including an applicant), relevant person or institution by name or which could reasonably lead to the identification of any other person (including an applicant), a relevant person or an institution referred to in an application made under this Act.34.– A person who is guilty of an offence under sections 7(6) and 28(9) shall be liable–
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €3,000 (£2,362.69) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €25,000 (£19,689.10) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Two other important motions were also passed.
On some of the recent tax exemptions, proposed by Anthony Cronin and seconded by Mannix Flynn
Aosdána deplores some of the recent tax exemptions granted to the authors of books and calls for the introduction of new guidelines in accordance in accordance with the spirit of the Act.
Ciaran O’Driscoll asked if Anthony Cronin would be more specific about who he had in mind. In paraphrase, in his reply Anthony Cronin spoke about the intention behind the exemption, which was granted to a work that is original and creative and is generally recognised as having cultural or artistic merit. He trenchantly stated that Bertie Ahern’s autobiography, which was ghost written, did not come under those guidelines.
To quote The Irish Examiner
Mr Cronin was an adviser for the initial establishment of the artists’ exemption scheme, but has stated that many of the works which were now qualifying for exemption were “rubbish”, and he said Mr Ahern’s recent autobiography, written by English historian Richard Aldous, was “an example of how ridiculous the whole thing has become”.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Censorship by Dunamaise Arts Centre supported by the Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomairle Éalaíon
Note:Originally proposed by Mannix Flynn, it was pointed out by Glenn Patterson that (in paraphrase) while he supported the motion he thought that because the motion concerned Mannix Flynn’s company Far Cry Productions that it was not appropriate that it should be proposed by him. This was accepted and Nick Millar agreed to propose the motion.
Proposed by Nick Miller, seconded by Ulick O’Connor.
That this assembly deplores the act of censorship imposed by management of the Dunamaise Arts Centre Portlaoise on Far Cry Productions’ installation of the Visual Arts Show Padded Cell and Other Stories. Further, that this assembly finds that the support by the Arts Council for such censorship inappropriate and unacceptable.
There were strong feelings expressed against, notably by Kerry Hardie, and in support, notably by Alice Maher.
The motion was passed overwhelmingly, with three votes against.
Declaration of interest I am a member of Aosdána and was present at the meeting.
Any discussion mentioned here is paraphrased from memory and may not be 100% accurate. The motions are copied from the Aosdána handout and the motions and discussion were held in Public Session.
Philip Casey
Note: The part of this post concerning the Redress Act will be copied to The God Squad, the website of record concerning such matters.
