A chara, - I owe it to your readers to keep the record straight with regard to the letter from Fintan Vallely (April 10th). Mr Vallely states that I was a member of the three-person delegation from Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann which was invited to the Oireachtas Committee on Heritage and the Irish Language. As the record clearly shows, there is no foundation whatsoever for this.
Contrary to Mr Vallely's assertion, the status of the report, which was unanimously approved by the Oireachtas Committee, has in no way whatsoever been altered or diminished. This was attested to at the Oireachtas Committee meeting on April 20th.
The six far-reaching and all-inclusive recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee represent a major official acknowledgement of Irish traditional arts. They have the potential to assess and respond to the long-felt need for State action in the areas of education, development, national and international promotion, funding, cross-Border co-operation and tourism.
Mr Vallely's continuing campaign must be challenged. Those who have crusaded for decades to achieve parity of esteem for the traditional arts want to rise above personal abuse and vested interests and get on with the real work of responding urgently and professionally to the opportunities which now present themselves.
In relation to Mr Vallely's reference to "whistle blowing", it must be evident to him by now that the manner in which he has conducted his campaign is completely out of tune. - Yours, etc.,
Senator Labhras O Murchu, Seanad Eireann, Baile Atha Cliath 2.