Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The personal commitment and interests of both Ministers in these very broad fields is very evident. We could pick even one of these and spend hours discussing it. I hope to put a number of groups of questions together but I will see how many I can get through in the time available. Specifically with regard to questions around the arts, culture and media, I will pose a number of direct questions. One is with regard to the Covid levels. There is the concern that at level 3 we saw theatres, galleries, museums and other venues closed. It is rather strange that one can be in a more crowded environment in a supermarket than one might be if one was in, say, the National Opera House in Wexford where up to 900 people can be seated and there might only be 50 people there. I am conscious the National Gallery will be opening a Mondrian exhibition quite soon and the Minister is due to open it. I do not see why we cannot consider opening venues under level 3 and I ask the Minister to consider reviewing that.

The Minister spoke about the arts, sports and tourism being part of our identity and that they will help us recover when we come through this difficult period. One of the challenges is how we can support the community and voluntary arts sector. I would like to hear a greater outline on that. I know there was a commitment, and perhaps the Minister would give an update on it, to funding to be made available to community and amateur theatre through the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland with the Drama League of Ireland also involved. What is the position on that specific grant?

On the question of culture and media, a concern I have is that there are vacancies on the boards of both the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and RTÉ. This committee has sought guidance on its role in filling those. We cannot move to a situation where both of those authorities are inquorate and it is important that we would get some guidance on that.

The Minister made reference to the audiovisual media services directive and how she is planning to enact the online safety and media regulation Bill. What is the timetable for that? I am particularly interested in the content levy, how it will be applied, when it will commence and what levies will be proposed as part of that. I welcome the continued extension of section 481 but are there plans to lift the cap in that area and how would she consider the expansion of the content creation industry in Ireland? I might stop on that question as I have asked quite a number.