Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

They are very courageous people. I presume the issues in the letter emerged from frustration. Had they been raised before? Was there consultation in the 2014 report that was mentioned earlier? Was that the reason it was triggered? Was there a lack of dialogue or miscommunication? One issue concerns the Abbey and the Arts Council. In the presentation it was mentioned that funding of late has been on a year-to-year basis whereas it was previously on a three-year basis. Is that a source of frustration or difficulty in planning for the Abbey? Multiannual funding usually makes planning a lot easier, especially if an organisation is planning for three or four years down the road.

If some of the changes that have been made are to be rowed back upon, it would require some certainty in funding. I agree with those who mentioned the minuscule funding the arts receive.

There are two issues. I will not name names but quite a number of staff have left the Abbey Theatre in recent times. Some of these people, who held prominent positions in Irish theatre, have left at a time when they probably are most needed. Is there a concern among board members over the level of departures? My figures show there have been up to 30 in the past two years, including HR staff and heads of different sections.

The other issue is of even more concern. I will read out the end part of the letter first and I will try to get an assurance, publicly, that none of its signatories will be blacklisted or sidelined. Some of them are concerned about this and some of the cast of one of the plays have overheard suggestions that they will be pursued for signing the letter. Some people say things in the heat of the moment and come to regret it. I want to make sure that nobody in the industry feels under pressure. There is work to be done and I wish the witnesses well in what they are undertaking to do on Friday. Since the letter was published there has been a huge amount of interest from other actors who have never had anything to do with the Abbey but are looking for guidance and for something that gives them hope. All the people who have come before this committee since I became Chair a few weeks ago have a genuine interest in the arts and do not want the sector to be fractured in any way. They understand and value the arts and if the witnesses present feel we can be of help in any way, they should drop us a line or pick up the phone. We will try to help and to facilitate them.

Perhaps the representatives of the Arts Council can answer the first question.