I thank the Deputy. As Minister with responsibility for arts and culture, I am conscious of the value the sector brings to all Irish citizens and how art is an inherent part of Ireland's cultural identity. The importance of Irish culture, art and productions as a whole cannot be understated. It contributes to individual and societal well-being, as well as contributing to Ireland's reputation as a country with a rich cultural history and output. I was delighted that as part of the national economic recovery plan I s…

My entire approach to the pilot scheme is that, by its nature, it is a research project. I do not intend it to be exclusive, but rather as inclusive as possible. It is a three-year research project to determine the impact of a basic income on artists and arts workers. As part of that research, we will need to determine what impact a basic income will have on the entire life cycle of artists from the point when they begin their careers to the point they retire. On that basis, it is critical that we include emerging …

I thank the Deputy. The opinions of the MEAI are, as I said, included in the over 500 submissions I have received and will be considered by the Department. The fairness to which the Deputy referred is at the heart of the scheme. It is important to note that applications for the basic income for artists, BIA, scheme will involve a non-competitive process. Therefore, once a person satisfies the eligibility criteria he or she will be included in a randomised selection process. I wish to again state that this is a pilo…

Ag teacht leis an treoir athbhreithnithe um sheirbhísí meán closamhairc, foráiltear sa Bhille um Rialáil Sábháilteachta agus Meán Ar Líne a foilsíodh le déanaí go bhféadfadh coimisiún na meán tobhach ábhair a ghearradh ar sheirbhísí teilifíse agus físe ar éileamh atá ar fáil sa Stát chun tacú le léiriú cláir chlosamhairc nua i réimsí éagsúla lena n-áirítear an Ghaeilge agus cultúr na hÉireann, athrú aeráide, agus comhionannas, éagsúlacht agus cuimsiú. Forálann an Bille freisin go n-úsáidfí íosmhéid de 25% den mhaoi…

Mar eolas, i mí an Mheithimh 2021, d'fhoilsigh Rialtas na Fraince foraithne inar leagadh amach na hoibleagáidí atá ar sheirbhísí físe ar éileamh ar nós Netflix, Amazon Prime Video agus Disney+ maidir le saothair Fhrancacha agus Eorpacha a mhaoiniú. Sonraítear san fhoraithne go bhfuil ar sheirbhísí síntiúis ar a laghad 20% dá n-ioncam bliantúil sa Fhrainc a chur ar fáil d'fhorbairt léiriú scánnánaíochta nó closamhairc ó thíortha Eorpacha nó ón bhFrainc. Is fiú a lua go bhfuil oibleagáidí i bhfeidhm cheana féin faoi …

Leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh mar ní raibh mé críochnaithe. Má tá aon eolas breise ag teastáil ón Teachta, cuirfidh mo Roinn é ar aghaidh chuige. Faoi dhlí an AE, ní féidir oibleagáid infheistíochta a thabhairt isteach bunaithe ar chraobh léirithe faoi leith san Eoraip. Is féidir oibleagáid a thabhairt isteach chun ábhar a léiriú nó infheistíocht a dhéanamh in ábhair i dteanga áirithe, mar atá ann sa Fhrainc, faoi chásdhlí an AE toisc gur cuspóir chun leasa chách é teanga oifigiúil ballstáit a chaomhnú agus a chur chun c…

Thanks are due to the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media for their extensive work on the pre-legislative scrutiny report on the general scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. This included 33 recommendations, which shows how complex and important this legislation is. One of those recommendations was that an individual complaints mechanism for harmful online content be provided. This is a matter I have been considering closely for some time. The issue…

It is exactly for all of those reasons that I have established this expert group to examine the proposals. There are significant complex legal and practical issues in this area. For example, in the constitutional and legal context, there is the complexity of upholding fundamental rights and respecting due process requirements for complainants, online services and the uploaders of content that is the subject of a complaint. I direct the Deputy to the binding codes and the real teeth this commissioner will have. Prov…

That is the intention. I spoke previously about the detail and real teeth of this commissioner. We have already started the recruitment process for the commissioner, in parallel with the progress of the Bill through both Houses. I will be initiating the Bill in the Seanad, and I have written to the relevant joint committee in that regard. That we have started the recruitment process for the online safety and media commissioner shows how seriously this Government is taking this issue. This Government and I will alwa…

I must clarify that policy responsibility for the core issues at the heart of this matter, namely, the protection of architectural heritage, urban regeneration and planning legislation, rests with my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Implementation of such policies on the ground falls, to a great degree, to local authorities, which in this instance is Dublin City Council. The local authorities have particular responsibilities and powers under the planning Ac…

In her absence, I commend Deputy Bríd Smith on the work she is doing on this issue. Again, I remind Deputy Boyd Barrett that the policy responsibility for the core issues at the heart of this matter, namely, the protection of architectural heritage, urban regeneration and planning legislation, do not lie with my Department but with that of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Any role for my Department or the tourism agencies regarding the Iveagh Market would come at a later stage …

The Department held the remit for heritage before I became the Minister, but that responsibility has now moved over to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am looking at Deputy Bríd Smith's question before me and it directly relates to the tourism aspect. My role does not come into play until the legal issue is worked out. As I said, the architectural heritage responsibility rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, while urban planning and development policy is prim…

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 78, 81, 99, 100, 120, 127, 128, 130 and 152 together. The number of questions on this issue goes to show the interest in and support for our arts in this House, which I welcome. As Minister with responsibility for arts and culture, I am conscious of the value that this sector brings to all Irish citizens and how art is an inherent part of Ireland's cultural identity. The importance of Irish culture and art and Irish productions as a whole cannot be overstated. They contribute to i…

I will revert to all of the Deputies.

Is cúis áthais dom í a bheith anseo sa Seanad an tráthnóna dorcha Nollag seo chun labhairt faoi na healaíona agus faoin chultúr, go háirithe an earnáil cheol beo agus an earnáil siamsaíochta. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Baill as an deis seo labhairt leo maidir leis na tacaíochtaí atá curtha i bhfeidhm agam don earnáil fíorthábhachtach seo. I am fully aware of the severe difficulties being faced by live performers and all artists as a result of the pandemic and my Department and I have engaged ext…

A separate scheme was rolled out.

I thank everyone for their contributions. I understand and appreciate the passion with which each Senator spoke and acknowledge how difficult these restrictions have been and continue to be, how cruel they are and the havoc Covid-19 has wrought on the live performance sector. I want to make it clear that I have nothing but respect for the musicians of this country. I respect the passion each Senator has and their contributions, but I have nothing but passion and respect for musicians. Unfortunately, Ireland remains…

That is happening.

I met its representatives last week and departmental officials met them on Monday.

We are very aware of the decimation of the tourism and hospitality sectors due to Covid-19 and the necessary restrictions. As the Tánaiste has referenced, it is the messaging and not necessarily the restrictions right now that are causing an issue for them. We are awaiting NPHET’s advice to Government and then will give consideration to supports, if needed. I would also like to inform the Deputy that the Tánaiste and I will co-chair a meeting with the tourism, hospitality and live events sector next Monday. It is r…