Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Vice Chairman well in his role today. I welcome our guests and thank them for outlining the position as they see it. I want to try to understand. Unless one lives in a person's shoes, one cannot understand the sheer misery and sense of fear and hopelessness of our artists across the board and the impact that has on the lives of ordinary people who value all the artists, music, song, dance, culture, venues and everything else. It is a complex situation.

I have been contacted by many musicians. This question is not to Ms Dorgan personally. Who exactly does the NCFA represent? I am aware that Ms Dorgan explained that but people think they are not being represented on the ground. I will explain later. Who does Ms Dorgan believe will be the biggest casualty? I know there are many casualties and that is probably an unfair question. We are all casualties, I suppose.

The funding of €130 million and then €50 million provided for artists is substantial and I am delighted with it. The issue is the vehicles and distribution methods for getting that to the people who need it, namely, the man or woman in the van and the entertainer with the expensive equipment who does cabaret in pubs, that side of things. These people are treated mercilessly by the banks. I am glad there is a Cabinet sub-committee to deal with insurance reform but what is missing is something to deal with the banks. The moratorium on mortgages has ended and many people are not sleeping at night. They are sick with fear. Their houses are mortgaged and their vans must have a national car test certificate and safe transport certificate. Much of the equipment value is on loans and hire purchase or whatever. Many of them have a lien against their house covering their vans and equipment. There is also back-up lighting and sound engineers. There is a great deal of detail in all of that.

The money announced is great but will it get down to individuals? People across the country fear it may not but it needs to. I have received a short note. The person who wrote it has also written to our Chairperson, Deputy Smyth, whom I congratulate. This person wrote on behalf of Screen Producers Ireland, SPI, with regard to the work of the committee and seeks a meeting to discuss further works. Other people and groups will have to come before the committee.

We also need to engage with the dance schools. Perhaps we can do so at a later meeting. I have letters from Alison Cronin and from some dance schools. I have to declare an interest in this matter. My niece runs Club Rince Nic Craith, the McGrath School of Irish Dance. It wants to be included because it cannot understand the situation. It abided by all the rules and made the required preparations in its studios or halls. It has now been closed twice and cannot understand why. A national school can have 30 kids in a classroom. That is great but dancing is part of education. It might be as part of a musical or whatever. It could be any kind of dance, from traditional to modern and anywhere in between.

Let us take, for example, Brú Ború in Cashel. It is run by Comhaltas and a former Senator was involved in it. It needs to be embraced and it needs engagement. Its classes usually cater for numbers lower than one would find in a classroom. Why is it being singled out for unfair treatment? We must try to educate in a holistic way. Musical talent must be exploited. People need that; it is very good for us. Some students are more interested in it. They have lost all their scores, réiteoirí, Comhaltas events and fleadhanna this year. Everything has been taken from them. They need to be back in tuition. The dance teachers also need to be supported. They cannot understand this. These dance schools were only allowed to operate with pods of six when they were open and they are now closed completely while the schools are open. They also need to be supported. Our guests will understand where I am coming from, although it is perhaps not fair to ask them about it today.