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Dáil Éireann - Volume 193 - 21 February, 1962 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Theatre Royal, Dublin. Mr. T. Lynch Mr. T. Lynch Mr. Ryan Mr. Ryan 20. Mr. Ryan and Mr. T. Lynch asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps, including the introduction of legislation if necessary, to acquire the Theatre Royal, Dublin for use as a national concert hall. Dr. Ryan Dr. Ryan 405 Dr. Ryan: I do not think that the Government should take the initiative in providing concert hall premises and I am not prepared to take steps to acquire the Theatre Royal, Dublin, for use as a national concert hall. In any [405] event, such information as I have at my disposal suggests that the Theatre Royal would be unsuitable for normal use as a concert hall having regard to such aspects as its size and operational and maintenance costs. Mr. Ryan Mr. Ryan Mr. Ryan: Is the Minister aware that the man who designed the Theatre Royal is the man who designed the Abbey Theatre, for which we have now allocated a quarter of a million pounds? The Theatre Royal has been in operation for over 21 years and in that time has been used by some of the most famous orchestras and for some of the greatest celebrity concerts in the world. If it was suitable for that, how is it unsuitable for a national concert hall? Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch: It is a matter of acoustics. Mr. Sherwin Mr. Sherwin Mr. Sherwin: The reason the Theatre Royal is being sold is the economic losses. In view of the fact that the jobs of over 100 people are involved, would the Minister not consider making some Budget concession to the only live cinema show in Dublin? Mr. Ryan Mr. Ryan Mr. Ryan: The Minister has collected about £15,000,000 in the past 15 or 20 years in entertainment tax and would he not now make a gesture and contribute about £1,000,000 to keeping the Theatre Royal going? Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch: It was not all paid out of the Theatre Royal. Donnchadh Ó Briain Donnchadh Ó Briain Donnchadh Ó Briain: Let the citizens of Dublin do it. Mr. T. Lynch Mr. T. Lynch Mr. T. Lynch: That is the man who closed up the Gaelic League hall in Newcastlewest. Dáil Éireann 193 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Acquisition of Theatre Royal, Dublin. Questions 19620221
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