Mr. Conor Falvey:

Traditionally, our primary relationship with the subsidised arts sector was through the Arts Council and Screen Ireland. Given that there is now a pandemic, we have opened our doors to all callers. More recently, we have been engaged with commercial venue operators and promoters. They have issues associated with the roadmap, how this is to be addressed, and the supports they consider necessary. We received correspondence from them very recently and it is under examination.

We meet representatives of the NCFA regularly. It has fed in to the expert advisory process through the Arts Council. There is a strong overlap in the recommendations that have emerged in the work of both the expert advisory group and the NCFA. Some of these issues are political, such as the appointment of a dedicated Minister for culture. Some of the requests are for capital support for venues. This is being examined as a matter of urgency. I anticipate that we will have a proposal for a Minister extremely shortly in that regard.

Other issues relate to the European Union. It has published a draft multi-annual financial framework, which is to commence in 2021. It is subject to agreement at European Council level. There are sums of money set aside within it for SMEs. The previous Minister had sought, in the context of previous Council meetings, the ring-fencing of some of the funding for arts and culture. We will continue to examine any opportunities that might present in regard to securing funding for Irish artists and cultural entities through those channels.

We will continue to engage with the NCFA and the Arts Council on all these issues in the weeks and months ahead, both on a bilateral basis and through the task force structure, to make progress on all these issues as promptly as we can. I do not know whether the Deputy wanted more information on any individual measure.