"One of my biggest fears is that people within the arts often aren't as engaged with the audience as they should be.

"It's not that I think they should play to the audience, but the public are the key stakeholders for the arts. The Government should not have to lead on [the arts]: they are not the innovators and creators, they are public servants. The arts are for the people, by the people, and a government has to respond to that.

"If people are saying the arts are rubbish and they couldn't be bothered with them, then I'm sure the Government will respond to that.

"The idea of what's quantifiable, what's measurable, is always an issue with the arts. But it's not until you take it away that you'll see how important it is. Imagine you are at Croke Park and it is All-Ireland football final day and there is no national anthem. That music is art. Take music away - from TV, from advertising - and people will start to get worried. But it is hard to put that into a spreadsheet."