Mr. Neil Murray:

On Mr. Conlon’s point about established writers, there is a clear channel both directly to the dramaturg or the directors of the Abbey. We have regular meetings with experienced playwrights about their work. They do not have to submit anonymously. There is that process but there is a direct line. We meet regularly with those writers and work on shows with them.

On the issue around the Writers Guild of Ireland, what we have said consistently since 7 January is that we want to talk to the signatories. This has come ahead of this and we welcome it. There will be a whole raft of information to go to the Writers Guild of Ireland but we wanted to have one line of communication. Otherwise, there was a real sense of fragmentation.

The reality is that the literary department is commissioning more work. There will be three new plays on the Abbey stage this year, two by new Irish writers making their debuts. That is a manifestation of what we are doing. We accept it took some time for the structures to be put in place for the appointment of a full-time dramaturg. They are now in place with significant supports for the appointment. We are optimistic moving forward. Not only will we be working with the great established playwrights of Ireland, with whom we want to work, but we will open up channels for emerging writers to have a real career path in Irish theatre.