The committee will ensure that the review process is robust, fair and transparent, and will lead to practical, actionable recommendations to improve the Arts Council’s governance arrangements.

It emerged that the Arts Council had spent €6.6675 million on a failed IT project.

The Minister explained that the project was “drawn to shuddering end" in July last year, and the secretary general at that stage initiated an internal review, which Mr O’Donovan had published

‘I do want to recognise the really good work the Arts Council does do,’ Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said.

The Arts Minister said there are a range of ‘fundamental questions’ about governance and culture within the Arts Council.