I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Bills considered in Select Committee ( without debate ) - Statements to mark Europe Day ( not to exceed 145 mins ) Private Members' Business shall be Motion re Affordable Housing, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions ( without debate ) - Statements on the Report of Review of Defamation Act 2009 ( not to exceed 135 mins ) - Motion re Ireland's Opt-in to a proposal for a Council Decision to provi…

No.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders and noting that an Order of referral to Select Committee under Standing Order 181(1) was not made in each case, Dáil Éireann hereby confirms the amendments made to— (a) the Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019 by the Select Committee on Health on 10th March, 2022, and (b) the Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019 by the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on 12th April, 2022, and the Bills, as amended, are accordingly repo…

The Minister, Deputy Martin, sends her apologies. She has a bereavement in her family and cannot be here this morning. Recruitment continues to be a significant challenge for the tourism sector, with up to two thirds of businesses reporting reduced capacity due to staff shortages. My Department and Fáilte Ireland have been collaborating with industry and other Departments to ensure there is a co-ordinated approach to addressing the labour and skills shortages. In February 2022 Fáilte Ireland published its most comp…

Fáilte Ireland is working hand in glove with key sectoral bodies on the tourism and hospitality oversight group, which is pivoted to focus on supporting the industry to address some of its immediate recruitment challenges in the months ahead. Obviously, matters relating to wage rates are set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and we are working with the Department as part of the career oversight group. The current staffing and skills shortages in the tourism sector are unprecedented. However, st…

I refer to the long-term retention of employees in the industry. That is why Fáilte Ireland is developing an excellent employer programme to showcase good employers across the industry and to help businesses improve their employer practices and reputation. The programme aims to reposition the industry as an appealing and rewarding place to work which can attract and retain talent. Participating businesses will have access to people management training for their teams, employee surveys and a range of bespoke busines…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 5 together. I thank Deputies Ó Ríordáin and Boyd Barrett for their questions. Eligibility for social welfare supports, as the Deputies will be aware, is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection and neither I nor the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, have any statutory functions in that regard. However, I can assure the Deputy that the issue of disabled artists participating in the basic income scheme is a matter which the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, takes very s…

I thank both Deputies for the questions. To respond to Deputy Boyd Barrett, I am informed that there were 150 people at the stakeholder forum, representing 50 resource organisations and representative organisations, including representatives from Arts and Disability Ireland. Similar to all income, the payment will be reckonable for the purpose of social welfare means tests. Whether a person's social protection payment will be impacted or not will depend on his or her individual circumstances. However, many of the i…

As I said earlier, in the case of the disability allowance, for example, it will be possible for many people to avail of the basic income and retain social welfare benefits in addition to the moneys received from the pilot scheme. However, it is important to stress that, as part of that, every individual's case is different in terms of their household income. The Deputies will know how familial cases vary. That is why there is a structure with the Department of Social Protection. The Department will engage directly…

The basic income for the arts, BIA, is a pilot scheme, the outcomes of which will inform future policy on the manner in which the State provides supports to artists. The Department expects a high volume of applications and it will not be possible to provide funding to all eligible applicants. The pilot scheme will run over a three-year period and the intention is to research the impact a basic income would have on artists' creative work patterns by providing the opportunity to focus on their practice, recognising t…

When the basic income pilot scheme was announced, it was always going to be for a specific cohort that was selected as I referred to in my initial reply. However, the supports for the arts and culture sector secured in 2022 are very clear. There is €25 million for the basic income scheme for artists and arts workers. We are maintaining the Arts Council allocation at a record level of €130 million. This allocation allows the Arts Council to continue to protect the jobs and livelihoods of artists and to assist arts o…

I was halfway through the supports for 2022 and I will now give other details on additional supports. There is €50 million for the live performance restart grant scheme to support the recovery of the live performance sector. There is €4 million for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme. This is specifically to support small music and entertainment businesses that do not operate out of rateable premises. There is €5 million for local authorities to support local artists and performers through the lo…

Throughout the pandemic we have been very cognisant of the challenges the restrictions caused for the arts, culture and live entertainment industry and the Government remains committed to the live entertainment sector as the industry recovers following the lifting of all restrictions in January. To this end, more than €50 million has been provided in a suite of supports for the live performance sector in 2022. This includes €4 million for the music and entertainment business assistance scheme, specifically to suppo…

I thank Deputy Cairns. I appreciate what she has outlined and the businesses that require support in her constituency in Cork South West. As I referenced in my initial response, the drawdown will happen. The payment process for the scheme will commence shortly and I appreciate the need for it. Payments will issue on a rolling basis as grantees submit their documentation. All payment requests will be dealt with without delay. I will revert to the Deputy on the question of when it needs to be paid by.

I thank the Deputies for their questions. I am taking these questions on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, this morning. I will ask her to revert on her engagement on insurance and other matters with the respective Departments. I know Deputy Murnane O'Connor's strong advocacy for Carlow and all things in many areas in Carlow. I appreciate what she has said relating to the pantomime business. The latest position is that payments will be made shortly. A total of 210 applications have been submitted. Th…

My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, namely, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies. With specific regard to the development of tourism product offerings such as the proposed Irish Sea Way walking trail, these are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland in line with its tourism development functions. Regarding the Irish Sea Way, I understand that Fáilte Ire…

I will certainly relay Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's feedback. I see Deputy Calleary is present and I know that when it came to the greenway in Mayo, with which I am very familiar, a lot of local work and engagement with landowners allowed that to progress but I am sure this is something that Fáilte Ireland will engage with. It is the early iteration of this, as I referenced. It has four main funding channels for its capital investment in tourism product development to support the enhancement of tourism attractions. These …

There is ongoing collaboration on this between Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development under the outdoor recreation scheme and a partnership is in place that provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreation infrastructure and the enhancement of existing outdoor infrastructure. In February 2022, a figure of €50 million was announced for the 2022 scheme, which will support dozens of outdoor projects across the country and provide a major boost to rural tourism. It will see t…

In autumn 2021, the Minister brought to Government a report developed by the sustainable tourism working group, which was established under the aegis of the Department. The report identifies a suite of actions that will promote sustainable tourism practices ahead of the development of a new national tourism policy. The successful implementation of these actions will shine a light on areas and destinations that are striving to be best in class in terms of sustainability and will provide better access to information …

As I referenced in my initial answer, there is significant work ongoing to market this and particularly to encourage the arrival of tourists to Ireland through ferry companies. That is why €594,000 is being used to promote ferry travel to Ireland. The Deputy referenced Rosslare Europort being so close to Waterford, and the huge sustainable progress that was made there in the tourism offering. I will bring the Deputy's feedback on the necessity to link that particular marketing experience with what should visually a…