The Bill provides the basis to enable the continued provision of capital funding to the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, for the purpose of supporting tourism product development and the tourism industry. Section 24(1) gives me, as Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the power to advance moneys provided by the Oireachtas to Fáilte Ireland. Section 24(2) sets out the amount that can be advanced by …

Ireland is resolute in its solidarity and support for Ukraine and we are honouring our commitment to help people who have been displaced by this horrendous war. More than 63,000 people who have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine have sought refuge in Ireland, and approximately 45,000 of these people are being provided with accommodation from the State. However, this war is causing ongoing challenges such as rising energy prices, scarcity of energy supply and supply chain issues including accommodation. Thi…

I thank Deputy Munster. As I said, we are resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine. More than 45,000 Ukrainian people have sought accommodation from the State in addition to more than 16,000 international protection applicants. This compares with 7,500 at the same time last year. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman's, Department has sourced accommodation for the equivalent of the population of Waterford city in the past six months. My officials have communicated concerns to the Department of Children, Equality,…

Hotel accommodation has been seen from the very beginning as a short term solution. It is not an ideal medium- to long-term solution for the accommodation needs of families. That is why the Government is exploring the wide range of alternative options, including the rolling out of a rapid-build housing programme. The use of tourist accommodation to meet humanitarian needs, while necessary in the short term, has obviously led to concerns for everyone involved in tourism, from what I have heard from engagement with t…

Tá sé ríthábhachtach domsa go dtugtar stádas comhionann don Ghaeilge i ngach réimse den saol, ach go háirithe i leith na craoltóireachta, a bhfuil ról ríthábhachtach aici i múnlú fhéiniúlacht agus chultúr na hÉireann. As the Deputy will recall, this issue of potential pay discrepancies between workers in Raidió na Gaeltachta and their English language counterparts, and the ongoing review by RTÉ of its grading structure, was raised during Committee Stage of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill on 26 October l…

I share the Deputy’s concern to make sure there is no disparity in pay. That is why, after Committee Stage of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, I committed to the Oireachtas joint committee that we would have follow-up discussions with RTÉ, which my officials did. I have written to RTÉ, with regard to disparity in pay which is purely related to the language through which someone conducts their work, outlining that there must be equality. While those in RTÉ, through the engagement with officials, have pro…

Parity of esteem for the Irish language is very important. I have asked RTÉ in my communication with it this week that it communicates directly with the joint committee to set out this process, which I think will address what the Deputy is looking for, and set out how that process could address the committee's concerns about the terms of employment of Irish language workers. I do not wish to pre-empt what further clarity RTÉ might provide but I am more than happy to continue the engagement with RTÉ on this matter.

.As I set out in my response to Deputy Munster on the issue of potential pay discrepancies between workers in Raidió na Gaeltachta and their English language counterparts, RTÉ is currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of its staff grading structure. I am advised that this process involves a root-and-branch evaluation of all staff roles and grades, including an assessment of the skills needs and requirements of the organisation. It is designed to enable RTÉ to devise a streamlined grading structure with fairnes…

As I outlined in my replies to the Deputy and to Deputy Munster, both of whom I thank for raising this important issue, parity of esteem between the Irish and English languages is vital and so I share the Deputy's concerns in respect of any disparity in pay purely related to the language through which a person conducts his or her work. Although we have been told the ongoing review is not specifically designed to address any disparity in the remuneration of Irish language workers at RTÉ compared with their English l…

As I said, I have to emphasise that this is a matter for RTÉ, given its statutory independence. My Department has no role in the day-to-day administrative or operational functions of RTÉ and, therefore, I cannot direct it in matters relating to staff remuneration. It is vital, however, that there is parity of esteem between both languages. There should also be transparency and clarity on the grading of and, by extension, remuneration for workers, regardless of the language through which their work is conducted. Tha…

My role and that of my departmental officials in tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy. With regard to specific expenditure by Fáilte Ireland from its Exchequer funding allocations, such decisions are an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland, as the national tourism development authority. Neither I, nor my Department, has any role in decisions by the authority…

As I said, Fáilte Ireland will have a representative sitting on the board of the newly-formed company. It has pledged full support to the company that will be charged with the development and steering of it. As the Deputy agreed, the company has had quite a successful summer in steadying the ship, with those wonderful events and concerts and high-profile media coverage, which is good, not just for King John's Castle but the wider area. I am quite happy to visit King John's Castle and undertake other engagements in …

As the Deputy said, the tourism offering in Limerick is vast and within the development of our new national tourism policy, where some consultation is now happening with stakeholders, there will be public consultation in the new year. We are looking to put sustainability at the heart of tourism. That includes all-year-round tourism and driving it out in order that visitors do not just arrive at the capital city for a few days but explore the regions. That is significant. Our greenways, as we have in Limerick, and b…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together. The basic income for the arts, BIA, pilot was a key priority for me as Minister with responsibility for arts and culture. I see this scheme as an important intervention to support the arts sector recover after the devastation wreaked by the Covid pandemic. Covid clearly highlighted both the precarious nature of working in the arts but more so, it shone a light on the importance of the arts for us all. It is well established that artists suffer from precarious incom…

A total of €25 million was allocated for this year because we knew we would not have a full year of basic income and that it would take time to get the randomised process up and running to do the engagement. I welcome and appreciate the Deputy's constructive engagement throughout this process. He has been very supportive of this scheme, which I think comes from his and his family's direct experience of the arts. All will get the full three years of payment. That is guaranteed regardless of when it started. It is a …

It is my plan to re-purpose. The details will be available shortly. It will support artists, energy supports they need and the issues that affect the arts, like any other sector. In respect of 2025, the research piece is ongoing. We already have the baseline from the participants who received their payment. Something will be published every six months so we will see the benefits and impact of it as it is ongoing so it will not be the case that suddenly in August 2025 we will have the effect of this. We will have th…

Vicky Phelan was and will remain known as a tireless fighter for women, a courageous mother, a fearless CervicalCheck campaigner and someone whose generosity of spirit captured the whole nation. The mother of two's refusal to sign a confidentiality clause and her court action over misread smear tests ultimately exposed what was a system failure of CervicalCheck. Vicky's battle took an enormous personal toll, but that was borne with steadfast and unwavering commitment to the truth. In finding that truth, Vicky has d…

Is mór on onóir dom a bheidh anseo inniu. Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí as cuireadh a thabhairt dom teacht chuig Seanad Éireann inniu. Tá sé go hiontach an deis a fháil léargas a thabhairt don Teach ar an gclár Sábháilte le Cruthú. I am very pleased that the Members of Seanad Éireann are engaging with this crucially important initiative, Safe to Create, which is a new programme for the arts and culture sector that I launched last month. Safe to Create is a dignity at work programme. It is the culmination of o…

I begin my concluding remarks by thanking Senators for raising this matter for discussion. I welcome the opportunity to speak to Members and to hear their contributions on this important issue. Since I became Minister with responsibility for arts and culture, I have striven to bring about positive change. The arts is an area that has always held a special place in my heart. I am pleased that in my time in the Department I have managed to bring about change that I hope is of value to those who work in this area. In …

Senator Kyne asked if it will continue. It is our intention that the Code on the Road workshops will continue next year. It will be expected that the boards of organisations would formally adopt the code. Next month we hope to be able to publish an initial tranche of early adoptees of the code. I reiterate Senator Warfield's thanks to the 1,300 brave people who responded to the survey that informs the actions outlined today and to the many people who have spoken out in recent years. They have been so courageous in …