Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the contributors. I commend the women in the arts who have come forward, who told their stories and who have all contributed to this watershed moment. I commend Grace Dyas on her bravery. We are being told by Government that laws are in place. I am not so sure about that. Ms Karan O'Loughlin has mentioned more than once the opportunities on the legislative front for us, as legislators, to consider, although the easy option might be to say that the culture is lagging behind, and perhaps it is. However, the national and the global conversation that is ongoing absolutely has to be followed by actions, some of which I welcome, from the various representative sections to drive out unacceptable behaviours, the toxic masculinity that we see around this place, and abuse of power. For those who abuse that power, there should be consequences for their funding. When the State gives contracts or funding to organisations, the highest levels of workers’ rights should be expected.

I have a couple of questions for the Arts Council. In its submission, the Arts Council said "We must use recent revelations as a catalyst for change". Given that, in January and February 2016, Equity produced a survey that represented the lived experience of artists, why is the catalyst for change needed only now?

My second question concerns reports. It has been reported that during her time on the board of the Arts Council, Ms Orlaith McBride had a friendship with Michael Colgan.